A partnership between innovation clusters in Cambridge and Manchester has been launched to attract further investment into both cities.
Innovate Cambridge, a joint venture between Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge Innovation Capital and the University of Cambridge, has joined forces with ID Manchester, a jv between the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, in a move to boost the scale-up of UK businesses.
The partners are set to draw on the strengths of both cities and build on the existing links between the two cities to create new jobs and attract further investment into the science and tech sectors.
The initiative will kick off with the creation of physical hubs in both cities, which are expected to encourage collaborations between researchers and entrepreneurs.
Long-term plans include connecting those hubs to academia, business and civic society, as well as working with the Department for Business and Trade to identify options for attracting joint inward investment.
The partnership is backed by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor Nik Johnson, alongside Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig and Cambridge City Council leader Mike Davey.
Tabitha Goldstaub, executive director at Innovate Cambridge, said: “Cambridge and Manchester have many established ties in the innovation space, and deepening these connections is a win-win for both cities and the businesses operating within them.”
Lou Cordwell, director at ID Manchester, added: “Our joint commitment to collaborating on this agenda will help ensure that our respective local communities feel the positive economic and social impact of this growth while also helping to power the UK’s success as a science superpower.”
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