Ten regional innovation hubs across the UK have been granted a share of £75 million in funding as part of the UK government’s launchpads programme.

Building on existing clusters of "high-tech innovation" in each region and following pilots in Liverpool and Teesside, a further eight so-called launchpads, facilitated by Innovate UK, will be rolled out across the UK.

Each launchpad will receive up to £7.5 million from Innovate UK to fund innovation projects led by SMEs in areas such as renewable energy in Southwest Wales, AgriTech in East Anglia and digital health in Yorkshire.

The government said the funding would allow SMEs in each region to bid for support that is tailored to the unique needs of each business cluster, helping them “drive innovation, expand operations, and boost their local economies.”

George Foreman, minister of state at the department for science, innovation and technology, said the research and innovation economy was “all around the UK” and not just in the ‘golden triangle’ of Cambridge-Oxford-London.

“From Glasgow satellite manufacturing to Manchester materials, Teeside hydrogen and Liverpool life sciences, alongside as many as 25 other globally recognised hubs around the UK – we have world class R&D – and supporting these regional clusters of world class innovation is central to our plan to make the UK an ‘Innovation Nation,’" he said. “That is why we have launched our flagship launchpads programme – and this £75 million investment will support high-growth companies to build the industries of tomorrow – in sectors from renewable energy through to digital health.”

Share Story: