Greater Manchester has signed a partnership with Innovate UK to boost innovation and R&D in the city region.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) means that they will work together to strengthen research clusters and support business innovation.
“This agreement will strengthen collaboration between Greater Manchester and Innovate UK, and in doing so help deliver a high-growth, high-wage economy powered by innovation,” stated Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
“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.”
They have agreed to work on a shared plan until 2030, which will set out how the development of innovation assets in Greater Manchester will inform Innovate UK activities.
“Innovate UK is building strong regional partnerships across the UK to support local innovation and commercialisation,” said Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK.
“The agreement with Greater Manchester is a good example of that and our commitment to levelling up the UK.
The MoU was signed today by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Innovate UK CEO, Indro Mukerjee, and Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board (GM LEP), Lou Cordwell.
“Our Innovation Greater Manchester vision is for the city-region to be a leader in the fourth Industrial Revolution and known globally as an innovation hub. To realise this, we are pioneering a new approach which brings together regional and national government with businesses, universities, investors and entrepreneurs,” added Cordwell.
Greater Manchester’s Innovation Plan outlines how “sustainable growth powered by innovation” could deliver a £3.8bn economic benefit and over 100k jobs across Greater Manchester.
