Focus Should Be on Manchester for Its Pioneering Role in Local Innovation
Manchester Emerges as a Regional Innovation Powerhouse
Manchester, a city in the northwest of England, is making significant strides in becoming a leading hub for innovation, particularly in life sciences, digital health, and technology. This progress is the result of decades-long collaboration and a united long-term vision between various entities, forming an innovation ecosystem that is attracting national and international attention.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), local government, universities, businesses, and industry bodies such as Manchester Digital and Manchester Angels work together to align innovation activities, support the commercialisation of research, and drive growth in key sectors. This strong collaboration across sectors is a cornerstone of Manchester's success.
Manchester's regional innovation strategy emphasizes several key elements. Support for translational research and commercialisation is ongoing, with efforts aimed at improving the commercialisation of research outputs and knowledge transfer to businesses, boosting productivity in core growth sectors and creating skilled job opportunities.
The development of innovation infrastructure is another focus, with increasing supplies of suitable laboratory facilities, industrial space, and specialised innovation hubs such as the Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster and Immersive Technologies Hub. These resources support business development and adoption of new technologies.
Manchester nurtures vibrant start-up and scale-up ecosystems, with over 1,600 startups in digital and tech alone. The city embraces a data-informed, inclusive approach to fostering entrepreneurship, enhancing competitiveness and talent retention through evidence-based digital strategy and coordinated stakeholder action.
Skills development and employment alignment are also crucial, with coordinated skills programmes tailored to sector demand, integrating education, health, and employment services to build the regional talent pipeline, meeting workforce challenges across innovation-driven sectors.
Significant funding and strategic frameworks support the region, with government-supported funding streams like the Local Innovation Partnership Fund (£30m+ awards) aligned with national Industrial Strategy goals, and local strategic planning through the Greater Manchester Strategy 2025-2035.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Oxford Road Corridor, and joint ventures like Bruntwood SciTech are delivering on this vision. The Industrial Strategy Council will be headquartered in Manchester, signaling a shift away from centralized control. Manchester Science Park's new Greenheys development will become home to UK Biobank, the world's most significant source of data and biological samples for health research.
Manchester's progress and success have been evident in its rapid growth in AI-readiness outside of London, earning a reputation as a world-class hub for life sciences. Meanwhile, Leeds has become a center of excellence in med tech. Birmingham is capitalizing on its strengths in clean tech and advanced manufacturing.
Glasgow is establishing itself as a leader in quantum and photonics, while Liverpool is expanding its Knowledge Quarter with a focus on infection research and digital health. The NHS's new 10-year plan emphasizes data-driven innovation, early diagnostics, and partnership with industry.
Regional stakeholders are building coalitions across academia, industry, and public services to develop innovation economies. The UK must move beyond one-off funding packages and lean into long-term partnerships with local authorities, councils, metro mayors, and institutions for regional innovation.
Together, these elements form a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that emphasizes partnership, infrastructure, talent, and strategic investment, enabling Greater Manchester to become a recognized leader in regional innovation nationally and internationally.
References:
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority (2021). Greater Manchester Strategy 2025-2035
- Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (2021). Greater Manchester Strategy
- Tech Nation (2021). Greater Manchester: The Future of Digital
- Manchester Science Partnerships (2021). Manchester Science Park
- Recognizing the increasing importance of cybersecurity in the digitally advancing landscape, Manchester's innovation ecosystem plans to further strengthen its infrastructure by incorporating robust cybersecurity measures, protecting both research and technological advancements.
- As part of Manchester's commitment to science, technology, and innovation, priority is given to enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration between industry, academia, and public sector organizations, particularly in areas like AI, quantum computing, and immersive technologies, to foster breakthroughs that drive economic growth.
