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(Photograph) - On camera: culture secretary Chris Smith caught another angle of the Silicon Fen effect last week in Lincoln when he visited the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside to see the latest developments in the Pounds 11 million media production centre.

The Lincoln centre is one of the most advanced centres of its type in the world. The facility is a collaboration between the university and Sony.

The four-storey complex will act as a beta-tester for the corporation's new products but its main focus is as a training centre for students in media production, journalism and communications.

Phil Cosker, director of external relations at the university's faculty of arts and technology, said: "We regard this as a long-term relationship which is mutually beneficial to all the partners. With a centre of this complexity, quality and size we plan to become a key player in both the higher education and media industry sectors.". Photograph by MIKE SEWELL.