N8 aims to expand its initial five theme portfolio to embrace other domains where, as a partnership, it believes it is also internationally-leading. Throughout, it will be seeking to identify and fill the vacancies in our portfolios of basic understanding, application, innovation, technologies, services and skills to address effectively some of the major challenges facing our society (e.g. the ageing population). N8 will underpin the new and changing industrial base the UK needs, by helping attain the foresight, skills and competitiveness necessary for global success beyond 2010 (e.g. using molecular engineering skills to design innovative and effective nanoscale devices).
However, N8 recognises that pooling science on its own is insufficient to engender the step change which we wish to see in innovation and economic and social impact. By further developing and re-defining academic-industrial interfaces in each of the targeted areas and by working closely with Government, the RDAs and their Science & Industry Councils, and other major groups (such as the NHS), N8 aims to provide innovative platforms for translating its research excellence into societal benefit, future industrial "edge" and economic impact for the northern regions and for the UK.