A combination of academic excellence and entrepreneurialism at York University has brought us to the happy position today of reporting on a potential 300 new jobs for the city.

City of York Council, recognising the potential benefit to every resident, has lent its full support to ambitious plans for new electronics and biology facilities at the university.

The council is one of the main partners in the Science City York initiative, which aims to create 1,600 jobs by 2003.

Now planners have given the go ahead for this latest scheme.

The slight snag is the cost - £43 million.

The university has applied for the cash from central government and the Wellcome Trust. This bid deserves to be successful.

Most of the new jobs would be taken by local residents: the new departments would need clerical and secretarial staff, plus research assistants.

The rest are scientific jobs which would attract applications from across Britain. That could only enhance York's academic standing.

The new facilities would also help reinforce links between town and gown.

For years, York University has struggled to fully integrate with the city. Its suburban location left it somewhat isolated.

But the importance to York of its university can no longer be denied.

It injects millions of pounds into the local economy, while the impressive growth of the Science Park is creating jobs both directly and indirectly.

The university is not just for the academically gifted, although its educational and research standards match those of any of its rivals.

It has become an economic powerhouse, encouraging science graduates and others to establish their own companies. With the help of bodies such as the council and the White Rose Consortium, involving two other Yorkshire universities, it is laying the foundations for York's future.

There can be no doubt that £43 million is a lot of money. But the Government has spoken repeatedly of the importance of scientific research and development to Britain.

When science minister Lord Sainsbury visited York last year he said: "It is absolutely important that we develop our lead in this area."

Now ministers have the opportunity to back their words with cash.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.