Greater Manchester science and technology sector set for innovation boost

Greater Manchester has signed a memorandum of understanding with national innovation agency Innovate UK to boost the city’s science and technology assets.

The agreement will see the Innovate UK work with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local body, Innovation Greater Manchester, to deliver a shared plan for how the city-region can harness its strengths in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other high-tech industries in the period to 2030.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Innovate UK chief executive, Indro Mukerjee, and Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (GM LEP), Lou Cordwell, were present at a special event held today (2 December) at the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (GEIC) in Manchester to formalise the agreement. Plans will see existing R&D clusters in the city-region strengthened, alongside an acceleration of investments into long-term innovation projects.

The agreement follows on from Greater Manchester’s existing Innovation Plan, which sets out a plan for sustainable growth for the city-region, driven by the so-called fourth industrial revolution, that could boost the local economy by £3.8 billion and support over 100,000 jobs.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said:

“Levelling up the country means rebalancing R&D spending so that regions can realise their potential. Innovation stimulates sustainable growth, which leads to better quality jobs and increased wages, raising the living standards of people across Greater Manchester.”

Lou Cordwell, chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (GM LEP) and Innovation Greater Manchester board member, added:

“The signing of this agreement is another significant step in our ambition for Greater Manchester’s innovation economy. By working with Innovate UK we can ensure the work done to create value through innovation responds to the strengths and opportunities unique to Greater Manchester.”

Greater Manchester is one of three UK city-regions, alongside Glasgow and the West Midlands, to host an Innovation Accelerator, as set out in the government’s Levelling Up White Paper earlier this year.