The UK government’s Levelling Up white paper, unveiled today, has outlined plans for Greater Manchester to become one of three new ‘Innovation Accelerators’.
The new Silicon Valley-style ‘Innovation Accelerators’ will aim to create new jobs and boost regional economies across Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Glasgow.
The three new centres for innovation, research and development will be backed by £100m of government funding.
The Levelling Up white paper is part of the UK government’s wider strategy to expand opportunities and level up all areas within the United Kingdom.
The strategy includes 12 national missions, aimed to be achieved by 2030, including enabling the large majority of the country access to 5G broadband.
Other missions outlined in the white paper include public R&D investment outside the Greater South East to increase by at least 40% by 2030.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP, said of the plans: “The United Kingdom is an unparalleled success story with one of the world’s biggest and most dynamic economies.
“But not everyone shares equally in the UK’s success. Great cities like Glasgow, Belfast, Swansea and Manchester, and proud towns from Aberystwyth to Armagh, to Bangor and Yeovil, have huge potential but contain inequalities which hold too many back.
“Our ambitious plan to unite and level up the whole UK seeks to end that historic injustice and call time on the postcode lottery.”
Shadow Levelling Up Secretary and Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy criticised the white paper in a Twitter thread:
