The event entitled 'Regional Responses to Global Challenges' (sponsored jointly by the University of Leeds and The Northern Way) saw over 100 delegates invited to debate global challenges facing the region, particularly in business, sustainability and innovation.

Welcoming the opportunity to support the work of organisations across the North of England, Angel Gurría commented:

"The recent economic crisis has shown that a different kind of economic growth is needed, and innovation is fundamental to achieving this. Regions such as the North of England have a crucial role to play and I am delighted to be back in Leeds to take part in this key event."

As secretary-general since June 2006, Gurría has reinforced the OECD's role as a forum for global dialogue and decision on economic policy issues. He has agreed to open membership talks with a wide range of countries, and has worked with emerging economies on the importance of innovation, freedom of investment, corporate social responsibility and energy efficiency.  Angel Gurría is a former Mexican finance and foreign minister, and a former student of the University of Leeds.

The Secretary General talked about his international experience of regions which have closed the gap on their national economic performance, focusing on 'green' technologies, medicine and healthcare and the financial and professional services sectors

The Northern Way has been working with the OECD in recent years on a number of projects, including an assessment of the North's innovation systems, and a best practice study comparing the North of England to similar OECD regions.

Hugh Morgan Williams OBE, Chair of the Northern Way, commented:

"The North of England typically compares its economic performance with the South.  But, as an outward looking and successful region in a world economy, we must always think globally.  Working with the OECD has provided an excellent opportunity to benchmark our performance against that of other successful regions around the world.  I welcome the Secretary General's commitment to support the economic development of the North, and the opportunity his visit has provided to debate our future in the world economy."

Richard Williams OBE, the University's Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer said:

"We're delighted to welcome the Secretary General back to Leeds, and to hear his views, as well as those of our panellists and delegates, on how the North of England can boost its economic performance by prioritising collaboration and innovation".

Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination and Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, offered a perspective on how regional collaboration on innovation can help meet the challenges ahead:

"Innovation is the foundation of Britain's international competitiveness. It will underpin our future prosperity, our quality of life and our future job prospects. So targeting investment to promote innovation in sectors and regions where the UK has strengths and competitive advantage is a key element of the Government's strategy for economic growth.  

"The Regional Development Agencies are playing a crucial role in delivering this strategy. Last year, they invested over £300m in creating the infrastructure for innovation in their regions, and research shows that for every £1 million they spent, over £8 million was returned to the regional economies. But collaboration across the regions is vital too, so I'm delighted to see how the Northern Way has brought the three Northern RDAs together to work with business and universities in supporting projects to help foster innovation, develop growth opportunities and create jobs across the regions."

Read Mr Gurría's keynote speech

Notes to editors
The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise showed the University of Leeds to be the UK's eighth biggest research powerhouse. The University is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, and of the N8 partnership of northern research-intensive universities. The University's vision is to secure a place among the world's top 50 by 2015. www.leeds.ac.uk

Please contact Paul Barrett at the University of Leeds on 0113 343 0917 or email p.barrett@leeds.ac.uk

The Northern Way is a unique initiative, bringing together the cities and regions of the North of England to work together to improve the sustainable economic development of the North towards the level of more prosperous regions.

Formed as a partnership between the three northern Regional Development Agencies (Yorkshire Forward, Northwest Regional Development Agency and One NorthEast), we also work with local authorities, universities, the private sector and other partners to secure a strong coalition in support of this goal.  The Northern Way aims to influence policy and delivery at a local, city region, regional and national level, to join up thinking and encourage collaboration.

In 2008, the OECD produced their first Review of Regional Innovation, focused on the North of England, with support from the Northern Way.

Contact Nicola Hughes, Communications Manager at the Northern Way on 07771 805949.