Sheffield and Rotherham reveal plan to create the UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District

Sheffield and Rotherham have today unveiled an ambitious plan to create the first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District in the UK.

It will be Europe’s largest research-led Advanced Manufacturing cluster, centred around the Sheffield-Rotherham corridor, which is already home to the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the wider Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley.

Unlike Silicon Valley, Innovation Districts combine research institutions, innovative firms and business incubators with the benefits of urban living and these districts cluster cutting-edge research in geographic areas that are liveable, walkable, bike-able, and transit connected.

The announcement comes during a three-day visit to Sheffield and Rotherham from Bruce Katz, Vice President of the Washington DC-based Brookings Institution and author of “The Rise of Innovation Districts.”

During his visit to the AMRC yesterday (Thursday, 15 January) Mr Katz said: “This is Sheffield’s moment.

“You recognise the critical importance of the advanced industries and the opportunity for devolution.

“Your capability in advanced manufacturing and materials is distinctive globally, and your culture of collaboration across business, university and local government aligns well with the new network model of innovation growth.”

Councillor Leigh Bramall, cabinet member for business, skills and development at Sheffield City Council, said: “Our unrivalled connection of industry and research-led innovation at the AMRC has been a force for the agglomeration of advanced manufacturing and technology firms.

“And this critical mass of expertise and experience presents the UK with a unique opportunity to create an Innovation District of global significance, where we can design and make the next generation of whole industries.

“Our Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District will be built on the burgeoning research-led Advanced Manufacturing cluster at the AMP and across the Sheffield Rotherham Economic Corridor, but we need to accelerate the next generation of growth by ensuring that our investment in innovation continues and that the area is physically connected, transit-accessible and technically wired, with spaces designed for open innovation to deliver a place where skilled workers want to live, work and play.

“The innovation and expertise is already there, and ready to be built upon, to create a Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District of huge importance regionally, nationally and globally.”

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