A NEWLY opened, multi-million pound "digital catapult" could propel Bradford to the forefront of the technology industry.

Based in the Design Exchange in Little Germany, the Yorkshire centre was officially unveiled last night and will provide incubation units for technology start ups and small businesses to showcase their ideas and products.

The building will have a particular focus on health and social care technology, especially on how personal data can be safely used, and will make use of super fast internet connections to link with similar centres across the country.

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The Digital Catapult is part of the ambitious, £12 million University Enterprise Zone in the city, and will see close work with local business, academia, the public sector and the other Digital Catapult Centres across the UK. The zone will also involve a health and wellbeing centre built on the university campus, and it has been claimed the zone could create up to 2,100 jobs and 180 new start up companies in the coming decade.

The project will be led by the University of Bradford with support from experts from across Yorkshire’s universities.

The investment has come from government grants, university funds and support from Bradford Council and BT.

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Bradford Council Leader, Cllr David Green, said: "I am delighted that Bradford has been selected to host Digital Catapult Centre Yorkshire, one of only three regional digital catapult centres outside London. It will enable small businesses to develop and showcase their innovative digital ideas and products and link up with larger businesses, which will drive the local and regional economy and forge links right across the UK."

Professor Shirley Congdon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Bradford said: “There is much anticipation among our collaboration partners that the projects undertaken with the Digital Catapult and SME innovators, and in partnership with our Digital Health Enterprise Zone, will lead to real improvements in people's health and wellbeing as well as sustainable high technology business growth and job creation.”

Professor Rami Qahwaji, Professor of Visual Computing at the University of Bradford said: “The Digital Catapult Centre Yorkshire provides an excellent opportunity to address significant challenges to business success by engaging in focussed research with clear outcomes.”

Businesses that want to be involved in the catapult have been invited to attend a lunch event on Wednesday March 25, where they will be able to find out how they can benefit from the facility. For more information email digitalcatapult@bradford.ac.uk