The DEVOTE Programme has been funded as part of a £100 million Innovation Accelerators programe aimed at accelerating the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters in Glasgow, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
Twenty-six research and development (R&D) projects will attract private R&D investment, create new jobs, boost regional economic growth, and develop the technologies of tomorrow.
New R&D model
Innovation Accelerators are a pilot approach to supporting three city regions to become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation.
The programme is pioneering a new model of R&D decision-making that empowers local leaders to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth.
Partnerships of local government, business and R&D institutions in the three city regions have led on selecting the 26 projects, working closely with Innovate UK.
Three city regions
Three city regions in Glasgow, Greater Manchester and West Midlands were chosen to pilot this programme in recognition of their R&D strengths, robust private and public innovation governance and strong local leadership.
The £100 million funding is being shared across those three regions and has been allocated using a pioneering ‘locally-led’ approach.
The projects will address local, national and global societal and environmental challenges. They range from developing health innovations to quantum technologies, and green technologies to secure a safe and resilient transition to net zero.
Boosting local economies
Glasgow will boost extensive venture capital investment in key growth innovation sectors including advanced manufacturing, space, and precision medicine.
Greater Manchester will lead the way in sustainable advanced materials and manufacturing, digital and tech, health innovation, and technology to become carbon neutral by 2038.
West Midlands will accelerate R&D and innovation strengths to enable greener technologies and improved personalised and digital healthcare for all regions, whilst boosting supply chains and creating new local jobs.
Local business leaders are central to the Innovation Accelerator partnerships. Industry are partners in many projects, and each city region’s portfolio will leverage private investment.
Innovate UK leadership
Innovate UK has led UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) support in delivery of the programme, working in collaboration with the three local partnerships.
The whole of government is backing the Innovation Accelerators, with access to dedicated support from:
the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
UKRI
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
This will help the partnerships to attract private R&D investment and overcome barriers to cluster growth.
As a pilot programme, the Innovation Accelerators will also deepen our understanding of the right conditions and interventions to grow successful innovation clusters throughout the country and to cement the UK’s position as a science and technology superpower.
More information here:
https://www.ukri.org/news/100m-rd-levelling-up-funding-awarded-to-accelerate-innovation/