North East: Universities of Durham and Newcastle form the Angel Alliance

Durham and Newcastle universities have joined the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast, an organisation dedicated to harnessing academic excellence for the benefit of the North East region, to form the Angel Alliance. It aims to develop scientific discoveries commercially, and to increase and secure government funding to turn academic research from the two universities into commercial assets.

Professor Chris Higgins, of Durham University, said: “Durham University already works closely with Newcastle University on a number of successful partnerships where we have complementary expertise, such as stem cells, energy and science outreach, which have laid the foundation for this alliance. As leading universities this alliance will provide more opportunity to combine our respective strengths and enhance the world-class research we are already undertaking. A partnership with One NorthEast to exploit this research may bring many economic and social benefits to not only the North East region but the UK too.”  

Professor Chris Brink, of Newcastle University, said: “The Angel of the North is the iconic symbol of the North East, located between Newcastle and Durham. In choosing to call ourselves the 'Angel Alliance' we are signifying the intention of the two universities to work together with One NorthEast not only for mutual benefit but also for that of the region.”

Alan Clarke, of One NorthEast, said: “The Angel Alliance is a unique collaboration that will concentrate primarily on the commercialisation of developments in science, engineering and other related fields within these two world-class universities.The new partnership will identify specific areas of science where the strengths of Durham and Newcastle universities are complementary and where, by working with One NorthEast, there may be considerable economic advantage in exploiting this intellectual capital.  It will also be a powerful partnership in bidding for research and innovation funding from central government.”