Bradford was built on its ingenuity and its prosperity was born from sheer hard work.

The wool and textile trades were synonymous with the city and helped give Bradford its heritage and some of the beautiful buildings still proudly lining city centre streets today.

But the heart of the textile industry has been torn from Bradford and the entrepreneurs of today are looking for new ways to make the district great again.

So where do they turn?

Manufacturing across the country is struggling to keep pace with the cheap labour competition from the Far East, while the service sectors face their own challenges.

So one sector of the business community has turned its sights on new technology and the ever expanding communications industry.

But what hope have they of making Bradford the by-word in hi-tech communications?

Pace shot to the front of the field when the boom in set-top boxes for digital and cable TV took off, but it has seen its share of the market shrink and suffered a tumbling share price.

Filtronic too, which makes, among other things semi-conductors for use in a variety of fields, has suffered at the hands of a ravaged world-wide economy.

But a team of entrepreneurs in Bradford and district feel they can still make it in the cut-throat world of global communications and have created their own network.

They are attempting to use hi-tech methods to allow them to do business - selling drug and pregnancy testing kits on-line, providing 3-D visuals on electronic business cards, and devising on-line brochures with 'turning' pages.

The network - which is made up of a mix of fast-growing companies operating from modern offices, to individuals working from their back bedrooms - combined to promote their businesses under the umbrella of bmedi@.

And their attempts at creating new wealth and jobs has attracted interest from regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward, which earlier this year gave a grant of £357,000.

The grant means bmedi@ can act on plans to promote the district's hi-tech industries.

The organisation was formed two years ago, specifically to raise the profile of Bradford's 'Silicon Valley' workers, to encourage an increase in business from outside the area, and to develop a source of good-calibre staff, and to try to nurture start-up businesses.

It became a limited company last summer.

It now has its own CD business card, which uses virtual reality to 'fly' past landmark buildings in the area, an interactive forum and website, and a regular newsletter.

It also organises a wide range of networking and professional development events with organisations such as the Institute of Directors, UK online for business, and the British Computer Society.

Two companies involved in the organisation have also established a joint venture to develop specialised software for GP patient management.

The membership currently ranges from web designers to software houses, security specialists to web-based promotional consultants, plus legal and accountancy practices with a specialist knowledge of the internet.

It includes the University of Bradford's School of Informatics and representatives of Bradford and Shipley Colleges.

But there have been hurdles along the way.

A lack of funding had initially hampered its efforts.

But the Yorkshire Forward grant allowed bmedi@ could appoint a chief executive and a business development manager, as well as increasing its promotional activity.

The two chairmen, branding specialist Nick Burton, of Keighley-based brand management consultancy Open Skies, and solicitor Robert McGough, of Bradford-based law firm Gordons Cranswick, believe the grant will allow Bradford's new media sector to emerge.

The organisation's interim business development manager is Matt Dowson, who will begin to research and help put together tenders from member companies, and help bmedi@ network with like-minded organisations throughout

the region.

Everyone involved in bmedi@ knows it has to be self sufficient as quickly as possible, as when the grant expires it must survive on vigorous commercial trading.

At the same time a large part of its remit is to work with and nurture the next generation of hi-tech workers.

This means bmedi@ is set to work closely with the Medi@Zone workspace in the Business and Innovation Centre on Angel Way to help incubate new businesses.

The Medi@zone provides subsidised small workspaces - enough for a desk and computer - for start-up new technology businesses.

The organisation also aims to encourage students to start up businesses, and is providing a list server where students can post their CVs.

Members of the network will also provide work placements and mentoring.

bmedi@ is an autonomous network, and its board of voluntary directors is working with chief executive Robert Kandt to provide a series of events where hi-tech issues, such as getting broadband into the centre of Bradford, can be aired.

Matt Dowson said: "We're planning to attract 50 new members from small-and-medium-sized enterprises, plus 50 student members, and five major company members.

"Bradford University, the Council, Bradford and Shipley Colleges and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television were among the founders.

"Now we want to spread our wings and strengthen links with other digital clusters around the region."

Robert McGough said: "We are different from other organisations because of the involvement of local companies.

"The movement was instigated by these businesses to ensure the area grows economically.

"It was set up by businesses for businesses.

"Even though we couldn't do this without the help and support of the Government and other agencies, business people can themselves sometimes be the best people to help other firms."

Innovative member firms are doing well.

Software company Black Marble was given a £45,000 Smart Award from the Dti to research whether young children can be taught programming, while security firm ECSC advises GCHQ.

Electric Angel, a husband and wife web design team, is doing well and is currently involved in number of community projects, while Gazelle Solutions has designed a course aimed at increasing self confidence in women while teaching them about technology.

Bradford's fortunes may have faltered recently, but this band of entrepreneurs hope their sector may be the key to the future.