Marvin OnumonuThe North East AI Growth Zone, announced by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, is set to bring over 5,000 new jobs and £30bn of investment to the region.
The zone, with sites at Blyth in Northumberland and Cobalt in North Tyneside, is expected to boost economic growth and establish the North East as a major data hub in Europe.
The initiative will create roles in sectors from construction to data engineering, artificial intelligence (AI) research and development, and AI safety.
Local universities, including Newcastle University, Durham University, Sunderland University and Northumbria University, will have graduates working close to the UK’s newest tech hub.
McGuinness said: “Today’s announcement of an AI Growth Zone places the North East at the forefront of the next technology revolution and will lead to billions of pounds of new investment in our region, thousands of better jobs and new opportunities for local people.
“I want kids in school here today to see their place in an AI-driven future.
“We know AI will be transformative for our economy, but this is how we make sure it also provides a new future for our young people, by working with business to create training and apprenticeship routes into this fast growing sector on a whole new scale.”
McGuinness added: “Our region boasts computing power that are among the best in Europe with Cobalt Park Data Centres already established in Wallsend and the QTS Cambois Data Centre Campus in Blyth due to open in 2028.
“We have the skills and brainpower in our tech sector and universities, and now we can match that with the new investment this Growth Zone will bring to the North East from around the world.”
Councillor Karen Kilgour, leader of the Newcastle City Council, said: “Newcastle and the North East has historically been at the cutting edge of technology and innovation, and the announcement of the region’s AI Growth Zone once again puts us centre stage of revolutionary developments.
“It is an enormous vote of confidence in our digital sector, in the bright, innovative minds that live, work and study here, and in our capacity to drive transformational change.
“It is another incredibly exciting announcement for our region bringing the prospect of thousands of new jobs in a rapidly-growing sector and billions of pounds of investment that has the potential to transform the outcomes and opportunities for countless people across our region.”
Kilgour added: “Being at the forefront of AI has been an ambition of devolution in the North East from the outset, and Kim has been a huge advocate for the industry, so it’s an incredibly proud moment for us all to reach this fantastic milestone.”
