Minister reinforces Helix site as centre for digital innovation Published on: 10 July 2019 Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries enjoyed a preview tour of Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s highly anticipated Catalyst Building during her visit to the city. Set to open in Spring 2020, Catalyst will be home to the National Innovation Centres of Data and Ageing, reinforcing Â鶹´«Ã½’s reputation and status as Smart City of the Year. It will sit in the heart of – a 24-acre, £350 million innovation district in the centre of Â鶹´«Ã½, a joint venture between Â鶹´«Ã½ City Council and Â鶹´«Ã½. Spread over five floors, the Catalyst Building will feature market research rooms, a data visualisation suite, large-scale prototyping facilities, a dementia friendly meeting room, TED style theatre and exhibition space and café. It will also offer on-site support to facilitate networking and collaboration. L:R - Nigel Sterritt,Jennifer Hartley, Margot James, Professor Lynne Corner, Professor Steve Caughey, Francesca Ward, Daniel Dickinson Professor Jane Robinson, Dean of Engagement and Place, Â鶹´«Ã½, said: “Â鶹´«Ã½ is proud that Helix is supporting the rapid growth of the digital and creative sector in the North East. We are linking academic expertise and industry to apply technological developments to make a real difference to people’s lives locally and across the globe.” Whilst on site at Helix on Friday 5 July the Minister also met with local businesses during the First Friday networking session held in the Core building. Â鶹´«Ã½ paving the way Margot James, Minister for the Digital and the Creative Industries, said: “I was delighted to visit Helix which will play a key role in maintaining Â鶹´«Ã½’s reputation as a leading UK smart city and to meet representatives who are supporting this work. “The collaborative use of data and digital across industry, academia and the public sector is helping to support innovation across the Northern Powerhouse, and through our modern Industrial Strategy we are using the power of technology to change people’s lives. I look forward to seeing this work progress.” Professor John Fitzgerald, Head of the School of Computing at Â鶹´«Ã½ introducing Margot James. Jennifer Hartley, Director, said: “The Digital Leaders Smart City of the Year Award is testament to the City’s reputation for innovation in smart, clean and digital technologies. We were thrilled to be able to host Margot James on Helix and discuss how assets and initiatives on site aim to help people live better for longer.” Press release courtesy of Invest Â鶹´«Ã½ Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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