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A trail-blazing programme exploring how universities can drive foreign direct investment into regional research and development
Led by Midlands Innovation and Midlands Enterprise Universities, a coalition of seventeen of the region’s universities, local economic growth partners (Midlands Engine, West Midlands Growth Company, LEPs) and national government, we have collectively developed the Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment Programme.
This is an ambitious programme of activity that both demonstrates and advocates for the role that universities can play in helping drive international trade and investment into their local and regional economies. Through global connections and linkages to the local innovation eco-system, universities can have a greater role in working with Government and local economic organisations to:
The pilot is co-funded by the universities, the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities (via the Midlands Engine Partnership) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (via their Tactical Fund).
Overseas investment into R&D has largely been attracted into London and the South East, but if the UK is to truly become a Science Superpower, then we need to look to supercharge all UK regions by better harnessing the R&D capabilities across the whole of the country. We believe that this programme will demonstrate that universities with their international reputations and world-leading R&D capabilities can play a more significant and strategic role.
Professor Karen Holford CBE
Chair of Midlands Innovation Board and
Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield University
Access the campaign microsite here
Download industry reports:
The project seeks to support companies whether they are looking co-locate a new R&D team on or near one of our campuses; access unique science facilities or testing equipment; undertake joint research or just connect to the thriving eco-system of talent and innovation that flows between the 17 institutions.
Innovation super clusters in the Midlands have been identified in five sectors: Agritech, Health & Life Sciences, Transport Technology, Creative and Digital and Zero Carbon Energy.
Sector brochures have been produced for each area and form the basis of the campaign to promote R&D investment in the region. Download the brochures here.
Investors in Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Japan and the USA will be engaged initially.
projects
collaboration partners
of England's total FDI is in the Midlands (20/21)
new jobs created from FDI in 20/21
