A REPORT by the North of England’s leading universities and top Tees Valley officials has highlighted how the chemical and process sector across the Northern Powerhouse could grow by more than £20bn over the next 20 years.

The Northern Powerhouse Chemicals & Processing Sector Science and Innovation Audit is one of a selection of major government studies produced for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to identify identified a number of strengths in different industries across the country.

Co-authored by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Durham University, the report set out to assess the chemical and processing sector’s innovation network across the Northern Powerhouse.

The report provides and evidence base for a £20m bid to Government’s Strength In Places fund, to create a world-class research presence to pioneer new approaches to the low carbon economy, meaning the chemicals industry can continue to be globally competitive and environmentally sustainable.

It would also see an ambassador established for the Northern Powerhouse chemicals cluster, to drive forward growth, investment and innovation.

Paul Booth, Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership chair, said: “The chemical and process sector is a huge part of our economy in Tees Valley, and in other parts of the Northern Powerhouse area.

"The history of the chemical industry is in many ways the history of Teesside, and with the right effort we can make this vital sector part of our future for decades to come."