North East businesses and students shared ideas at Sunderland Software Centre during a University-led event to promote the growing number of technology opportunities in the region.

Entitled Innovation Technology for Business, the event on the 3rd December is a new venture between the University of Sunderland, business group Network North and communications firm Way 2 Communicate (W2C).

The aim was to stimulate enterprise and entrepreneurship by bringing together businesses, students, guest speakers and business advisors in one place at the same time.

30 companies exhibited at the mini-expo and a series of seminars and workshops on IT and business topics ran throughout the day. Alongside there was a display of student work of modules and achievements from some of the University’s brightest talents.

Because of the event’s success another dedicated technology event is being organised for the summer to coincide with student graduation.

The event came about through a growing relationship between W2C and the Networking, Telecommunications and security team within the Department of Computing, Engineering and Technology at the University. W2C and the Department have successfully collaborated in teaching VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephony system to undergraduate and post-graduate students.

As part of this growing relationship W2C and the University are considering ways to help students get closer to local businesses with the prospect of employment and internships.

This led W2C and the University using business networking group Network North to organise and promote the expo event to bring businesses and students together.

Phil Irving, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computing, Engineering and Technology at the University of Sunderland, said: “Employability has always been key to how the University promotes itself to students but it even more so now as part of Sunderland Futures (http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/futures/). This collaboration is perfect example of how the University is continuing to build and grow valuable links into the region’s growing network of technology businesses”.

“This proved to be very fruitful event and will now become a regular on our calendar as we strive to bring business and students together.”

Philip Pugh, Sales Director for Way 2 Communicate, said: “The relationship between the university faculty and ourselves is proving to be very beneficial and rewarding and we can’t wait to start organising the next event which will be bigger and better.”