The DER Centres are part of the Government’s Driving the Electric Revolution challenge, which aims to help the UK Power Electronics Motors and Drives (PEMD) supply chain seize the economic opportunities from the global transition to clean technologies and electrification.

The centres will help businesses across numerous sectors, including transport, energy, construction and agriculture, to invest and work together to capitalise on the UK’s strengths in this technology.

Newcastle University is heading up the DER Centre North East at the Innovation Centre, International Advanced Manufacturing Park, based in Sunderland, which is an £18m investment from Sunderland City Council.

The DER Centre North East partners include Sheffield University, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Centre for Process Innovation the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the Offshore Renewable Energy catapult, as well as most of the regional academic institutions.