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Sophie Walton (Group Director of Academic Engagement at CPI), Jenny Taylor (Head of Economic Development at Durham University), Sarah Slaven (Managing Director at Business Durham)

The zone will provide bespoke support to technology and science-focused small and medium enterprises.

We’re celebrating the opening of a new £1.4m enterprise zone providing bespoke support to technology and science-focused small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The enterprise zone named Orbit, is now inviting SMEs in the North East to sign up and join the community based at at NETPark, Sedgefield.

Specialist guidance and support

Businesses who become members of Orbit, will get targeted guidance and support from our researchers, test facilities, the chance to attend regular workshops and events and the use of one of the flexible, private or collaborative office spaces.

Not only will businesses receive support from our experts, but they will also have opportunities for collaborative working and expert advice from our partners at Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and Business Durham.

Collaboration and innovation

Orbit, which received funding from Research England and the European Regional Development Fund, is just one of the collaborative projects between us and partner agencies at NETPark.

Two of our spin-out companies, Kromek, which specialise in digital colour x-ray imaging, and Magnitude Biosciences, which has pioneered the use of the tiny nematode worm C. elegans to accelerate early pre-clinical drug development for biotech and pharma, also occupy part space at the NETPark.

This most recent collaboration project brought together several North East-based agencies, including VEST Construction, Space Architects, Identity Consult (development consultants) and Cundall (engineering consultancy).

Gavin Vest (Vest Construction), Rowena John (Durham University Estates and Facilities), Duncan Rae (Identity Consult), Jenny Taylor (Head of Economic Development at Durham University) and David Wise (Space Architects)

Find out more:

Image captions
Image 1 from left to right: Sophie Walton (Group Director of Academic Engagement at CPI), Jenny Taylor (Head of Economic Development at Durham University), Sarah Slaven (Managing Director at Business Durham).
Image 4 from left to right: Gavin Vest (Vest Construction), Rowena John (Durham University Estates and Facilities), Duncan Rae (Identity Consult), Jenny Taylor (Head of Economic Development at Durham University) and David Wise (Space Architects)