Cambridge and Manchester launch new innovation cluster to boost investment

A ‘progressive’ new partnership between the innovation clusters in Manchester and Cambridge aims to boost investment in both cities and across the wider UK.

The link-up will draw on the research and sector strengths of both cities to help them accelerate the scale-up of businesses and create new local jobs in sectors critical to the UK’s future prosperity.

Innovate Cambridge and ID Manchester, a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech that is set to become a ‘world-leading’ innovation district, are launching a strategic partnership to build on the existing links between the two science and tech hotspots.

This collaboration, starting this month (October 2023), will connect Manchester’s rapidly growing tech scene to Cambridge’s established ecosystem, which last month (September 2023) was named the most intensive science and technological cluster in the world for a second year running by the Global Innovation Index.

Despite the geographical distance between them, the two cities already have a close relationship in this space. Major science and tech firms co-locate in both city regions including life sciences giant AstraZeneca, chip designer Arm and global streaming platform Roku.

The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester have strong ties, including collaborating on major national research and development initiatives such as the Henry Royce Institute and the Productivity Institute. There are also strong ties between the investment communities, through Cambridge Angels and Manchester Angels.

The collaboration has the backing of the mayors of Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Andy Burnham and Nik Johnson, as well as Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig and Cambridge City Council leader Mike Davey. The proposals also support the Government’s ambitions for the UK to become a science and tech ‘superpower’.

The first step in boosting links between the regions will include setting up physical hubs in both cities to strengthen and accelerate collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs and act as a gateway to both ecosystems.

Lou Cordwell, Director of ID Manchester and chair of the GM Business Board, commented: “This is a pioneering partnership that brings together two of the UK’s key innovation cities, with highly complementary offerings and ambitions to create an ambitious new cross-UK innovation cluster.

“Both partners have exceptional science and tech assets and ecosystems, including their globally renowned academic institutions, underpinned by our shared ambitions to deliver a more inclusive model of innovation.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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