Driving Foreign Direct Investment into the regions thriving research and innovation ecosystem
Led by Midlands Innovation and Midlands Enterprise Universities, along with local economic growth partners (Midlands Engine, West Midlands Growth Company, LEPs), and national government, we have collectively developed the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign.
Launched at UKREiiF in 2024, this £3 million campaign builds on the success of the Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment’ Pilot, which highlighted the significant role universities can play in driving overseas trade and investment into UK regional R&D. The campaign aims to:
Investment Support
Since its official launch, the campaign has showcased the region’s R&D strengths through a series of outbound missions, leveraging international alumni, industry, and university connections to engage investors and raise the region’s profile. It focuses on five key sectors where the Midlands excels in research and innovation.
The campaign has established the UK’s first University Investment Concierge Service, providing navigation and connection services for investors seeking to work with our region’s universities. This service connects investors with local, regional, and national government bodies, research and innovation agencies, and international representatives.
Aligning with the priorities of the new West and East Midlands Mayors and other local leaders, the campaign supports efforts from government and local growth agencies to secure transformative funding for major regeneration projects across the region, with universities as core partners. These include sites within both West and East Midlands Investment Zones.
The campaign is supported by £1.5 million from the Government’s International Science Partnership Fund. Additional support comes from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the UK’s Global Science and Innovation Network (SIN), jointly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
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
