FIRMS are set to benefit from a new state-of-the-art centre concentrating on cutting-edge information and communication technology.

InfoLab21, based at Lancaster University, aims to establish a world class centre of excellence for research, development and bringing to market of IT-related products.

The centre, funded by a £10 million grant from the North West Development Agency (NWDA) plus EU funding, will house more than 250 academic experts in the IT field and around 20 small and medium-sized IT-based firms at the university's Knowledge Business Centre.

Lancaster University has built an international reputation for its work in IT and works with leading telecom operators, equip-ment manufacturers and software providers.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who opened InfoLab21, said it was an excellent example of how firms and universities could work together "to seize the opportunities presented by the global knowledge economy."

Lancaster University's Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings said: "InfoLab21 will enable industry to obtain com-petitive advantage from the research strengths, international networking and links with multi-national companies of the university."

NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead said the centre a distinctive green-coloured building on a prominent site near the M6 - would play a key role in helping businesses to tap into the expertise of Lancaster University.