Local areas invited to bid for funding to support innovation

Areas across the UK are being invited to bid for up to £20 million in funding to boost innovation and research and drive local economic growth.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is inviting local and regional partnerships to bid for government funding from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. Financial support aims to back projects that can existing research breakthroughs into practical solutions that create jobs and improve and build on local areas’ existing strengths.

Funding sits alongside the existing Innovation Accelerators programme, as well as £30 million already earmarked for each of the 10 existing innovation hubs, such as Greater Manchester.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall explained:

“[This fund] empowers local leaders, researchers, and businesses with skin in the game to deliver transformational research that creates jobs and improves lives in their area.

“Ten regions already have our support and will be able to deliver game-changing innovations to benefit their communities.

“Now we’re extending this opportunity to the rest of the country, and I encourage partnerships everywhere to come forward, and show how they can unlock their local expertise to create tomorrow’s innovations.“

Consortiums of various forms are encouraged to apply, to ensure regions across the length and breadth of the UK are supported to develop new innovations and drive regional growth. Interested areas can submit expressions of interest and find out more about the eligibility criteria via the UKRI website.