WORCESTER'S new hospital could play a key role in an emerging "technology corridor", according to the county council.

The building is scheduled to open in March next year.

"The aim is that it should be a teaching hospital," said the council's portfolio holder for economic regeneration, Colin Beardwood.

"At the moment hospitals in the county don't do much research, but I hope that will change."

He said the county had plenty of "intellectual capital", but needed to ensure Worcestershire did not suffer a brain drain.

"Talented people can move anywhere in the country, or even the world, to find work," said Coun Beardwood.

"If the facilities are good here, we should make sure those people stay in the county."

He said the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA), which employs 2,000 workers in Malvern, was a centre of excellence and the council was keen to include it with the hospital in the "technology corridor".

"When we talk about the technology corridor we don't mean a series of buildings," said Coun Beardwood.

"It's about linking research and talent between DERA in Malvern and universities in the West Midlands."

He described DERA as being "one of the brightest spots on the West Midlands horizon".

"Unfortunately, in the past their expertise has been exploited by overseas markets," said Coun Beardwood.

He hoped the agency, which is due to be partly-privatised in July, would provide a pool of hi-tech research to benefit British firms and that the Malvern Science Park would flourish.

He listed two of the county's assets in enticing a skilled workforce as being its pleasant environment and good motorway network, linking with airports at Birmingham and Bristol in particular.

However, Coun Beardwood said the council had "some work to do" in raising educational standards if it was to nurture a home-grown technologically-adept workforce.