£30bn AI growth zone could bring thousands of jobs to North East

Huge investment plan to involve some of world's biggest tech firms

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

AN AI growth zone that could create thousands of jobs, bring in £30bn of investment and involve some of the world's biggest technology companies is to be set up in the North East.

Details of the scheme have been announced as part of a series of technology investments to accompany President Trump's state visit to the UK.

The plans would see British firm Nscale working with American technology giants OpenAI and Nvidia to establish Stargate UK.

The company, which would deliver new AI infrastructure in the UK, is expected be based at a number of sites around the UK, including in Cobalt Park, North Tyneside, which will form part of the newly designated Al Growth Zone in the North East.

The region is already benefiting from a £10bn investment from global financiers Blackstone into a massive data centre at Cambois, near Blyth, with the Government saying that the growth zone designation could bring in an additional £20bn in investment from future partners.

It is hoped that the new Al zone will create thousands of jobs in both AI itself and parts of the economy that can benefit from it.

Graduates from the region's four universities will also be close to the new technology for their work in areas such as medical research, climate change and manufacturing.