The North East is targeting economic growth with the launch of the North East Digital Cluster Launchpad.
The new initiative is delivered by Innovation SuperNetwork (ISN) – the innovation arm of business support organisation UMi – which aims to catapult the region to the forefront of fast-growing and emerging digital tech markets.
It is created in partnership with Innovate UK, which is providing £150,000 of funding, as well as the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, and North East Combined Authority.
The Launchpad will open doors within emerging digital sub-clusters, helping North East-based digital businesses grow faster. By adapting and launching innovative digital technologies, these businesses will support both established and emerging industries in the region and beyond.
The Launchpad’s support is built around five key pillars:
- Inspire & Connect: bringing people together to encourage innovation partnerships among key players, creating essential opportunities for these businesses to grow the importance and credibility of the sector within the region.
- Challenge & Innovation: educating entrepreneurs to seize opportunities generated by the cluster through practical and actionable advice which will help digital businesses to grow.
- Access to Finance: building a local, national, and international funding community to support the NE digital economy.
- Inclusivity & Diversity: supporting diverse teams to enhance innovation opportunities and strengthen the wider digital cluster.
- Communicate Success: sharing inspiring innovation stories from the region to highlight the scale and impact of the North East’s digital economy.
ISN is all about driving innovation and economic growth in the North East. By connecting businesses with the opportunities, finance, and support they need and is an anchor of the region’s booming innovation scene.
With deep roots in the sector and extensive local knowledge, ISN is perfectly positioned to help the Launchpad amplify, connect, and grow a more inclusive digital cluster. Using a strong cross-sector network and existing digital programmes, ISN sparks innovation and maximises collaboration.
According to a Tech Nation report, the North East has the fastest-growing digital sector outside London, contributing £2.1bn GVA, with 3,500 businesses and 35,000 employees. The region already boasts several successes in the cluster’s key growth areas, with progress from large well-established businesses to SMEs alike.
North Tyneside and Sunderland rank in the top 40 for data analytics, featuring a strong research base with the National Innovation Centre for Data, and a concentration of growing data-led companies like Wordnerds. There has also been an 81% increase in fintech companies over the last three years, with major employers like Sage and Accenture. Atom Bank recently raised £100m in equity.
Advances in NetZero tech have been driven by the ORE Catapult and NetZero NE, with key players like Port of Tyne and world-leading facilities like Equinor serving as test beds for new digital technologies.
Despite being a developing cluster, its components are globally competitive and benefit from strong inward investment and infrastructure. ISN’s extensive network, existing programmes, regional assets, and the backing of partnering organisations will collaboratively deliver Launchpad activities focused on driving innovation and encouraging collaboration between businesses in the North East digital cluster.
Steve Erdal, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Wordnerds said: “The North East consistently punches above its weight in the digital sector, and one of the main reasons for this success is the network of support available to people with good ideas. Nobody at Wordnerds had run a tech startup before, but going for it was the best thing we did in our working lives, and our support network has been a huge part of getting us to this stage.
“Organisations like ISN are pivotal to this development. They’ve helped us on numerous occasions, and the opportunities for development, funding and support that this new initiative represents is cause for celebration across our amazing region.”
Leanne Miller, Digital Programme Manager at Innovation SuperNetwork, said: “The North East Digital Cluster Launchpad represents a significant step forward in driving digital innovation and economic growth in our region. Innovation SuperNetwork is perfectly positioned to support this programme, which will continue to build on the great work of our Digital Cluster North of Tyne programme, utilising our deep-rooted connections within the North East’s innovation ecosystem.
“By leveraging our established networks and programmes, we can foster meaningful collaborations, inspire groundbreaking ideas, and connect businesses with the essential funding and support they need.
“We look forward to seeing the transformative impact this Launchpad will have on our local digital economy and the opportunities it will create for businesses across the North East.”
