Durham University

With established 5 and 5* rated research fields, Durham University is one of the UK’s leading research bases and home to a number of high-tech start-ups including Durham Scientific Crystals. Durham University is internationally recognised for its strong research capabilities in Engineering, Chemistry, Biosciences and Physics.

Its research centres include:

• Polymer Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Polymer Science & Technology
• Photonics Materials Institute
• Microsystems Technology Group
• Centre for Electronic Nano-Systems
• Institute for Agility and Digital Enterprise Technologies

University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

With twenty-nine 5 and 5* rated research units, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne is also highly recognised for both leading edge research and entrepreneurship. It has established ten new interdisciplinary research institutes bringing together a critical mass of leading R&D activities.

This includes institutes for:

• Cell and molecular biosciences
• Human genetics
• Computing and informatics
• Nanoscale science & technology (INSAT)
• Cancer Research
• Environment & sustainability
• Ageing & health

The Faculty of Medical Sciences at the university supports research in each of the ten institutes and has an established Clinical Research Centre jointly run with Newcastle Hospital's NHS Trust.

Northumbria University

Northumbria University has developed a number of highly regarded research and business consultancy areas. This includes the world-class Centre for Design Research incorporating teams for industrial design, medical products and trend prediction. Jonathan Ives, designer of the iPOD, graduated from the School of Design at Northumbria University. The university has also established research groups in science and technology including:

• Microelectronics Industrial Centre (MIC)
• Advanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI).

MIC works with small business to assist in product design, development and manufacturing of electronic products. AMRI undertakes research and assists small business in the innovation and characterisation of new advanced surfaces such as metals, alloys, nano-structures and biomaterials.

University of Sunderland

In 2001, a survey in The Times selected the University of Sunderland as the “Best New University in the UK for Research”.

The university has established research activities in a number of key areas:

• Art & design
• Automotive technologies
• Computing
• Drug discovery
• Biomedical sciences
• Health, society and the environment.

The university has also established a number of research institutes including the Automotive & Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) and the Institute of Pharmacy, Chemistry & Biomedical Sciences

University of Teesside

25% of the UK's chemical industry is based in the North East of England and the University of Teesside is located at the heart of this industry. The university has established a number of research centres and specialist units.

These include:

• World-class B2B Manufacturing Centre
• Virtual Reality Centre
• The Teesside Manufacturing Centre
• Clean Environment Management Centre
• Community Informatics Research and Applications Unit

Teesside have also established the Teesside Centre for Nanotechnology & Microfabrication (TCNM). This Centre will focus on technologies for innovating novel sensors and devices, such as biosensors for near-patient diagnostics and environmental sensors.