Why All Eyes Should Be On Manchester When It Comes To Regional Innovation

Forbes

a day ago

The UK's innovation and industrial agendas have historically been shaped by successive Westminster Governments, often leaving the insight and contribution of some of the UK's regional powerhouses behind. The recent announcement that the Industrial Strategy Council will be headquartered in Manchester, however, signals a much-needed shift away from centralised control, to one that recognises the incredible industrial heritage of the regions and the innovation being driven across the UK today.
Manchester has created the blueprint for regional innovation, one grounded in long-term collaboration. It's a model that other areas across the UK would do well to study and adopt. This approach has not only elevated Manchester's profile but also attracted significant national and international attention and investment.
Crucially, the city isn't standing still. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) recently announced The Greater Manchester Strategy, a ten-year vision underpinned by seven delivery workstreams that will cement Greater Manchester as 'a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life'. This new plan builds on Manchester's proven formula and introduces seven delivery workstreams designed to strengthen integration of public, private and academic sector ecosystems, and investment in growth areas and R&D.
On the topic of which, recently we've seen a rapid growth in AI with Manchester and Salford ranked top for AI-readiness outside of London. The city is also leading the charge in digital health, data infrastructure, cybersecurity and FinTech businesses – all of which also align with the new Industrial Strategy's pillars – and it's becoming common knowledge that Manchester has earned a reputation as a world-class hub for life sciences in recent years.
Indeed, Manchester's Inward Investment Agency, MIDAS, recently launched a new life sciences prospectus showcasing the city region's position as one of the UK's most dynamic health innovation ecosystems. Produced by MIDAS and the Oxford Road Corridor – Manchester's knowledge quarter – with contributions from a collection of key regional stakeholders including Bruntwood SciTech - the prospectus highlights the city's position within the UK's £120bn growing life sciences market and showcases its regional strengths in data, genomics, oncology and real-world evidence clinical trials.
Rather than a city playing catch up, Manchester is a city setting the pace. But what truly sets it apart isn't just the funding it's received or the institutions it hosts, it's that the city has never waited for permission.
Build first, attract later
Manchester's progress and success has been the result of decades-long collaboration and a united long-term vision between civic leaders, universities, property developers and industry, forming an innovation ecosystem that existed well before national attention followed.
Take Manchester Science Park with our new Greenheys development at its heart. The site is set to become home to UK Biobank, the world's most significant source of data and biological samples for health research. UK Biobank being a part of Manchester's already thriving ecosystem has been instrumental in securing the £20 million being awarded through the Industrial Strategy, supporting its delivery of the world's most significant protein study. With the data made accessible to approved researchers worldwide, the project exemplifies how locally driven success stories can attract major government backing and deliver global scientific value.
The timing is also significant. The NHS's new 10-year plan announced at the beginning of July places renewed emphasis on data-driven innovation, early diagnostics and partnership with industry. In Manchester, we're already seeing how strong relationships between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Oxford Road Corridor and joint ventures like Bruntwood SciTech can deliver on this vision. The co-location of life science businesses alongside NHS clinicians and researchers offers a powerful draw for tech, innovation and science businesses looking to scale in a real-world healthcare setting.
By demonstrating ambition, clarity and joined up thinking locally, Manchester has built something that national government is now backing.
Local leadership, national returns
Manchester may be the blueprint, but cities like Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow are also carving distinct innovation paths that deserve greater attention and resourcing.
Liverpool is expanding its Knowledge Quarter with a growing focus on infection research and digital health, powered by strong university partnerships and the proactive work of local leaders to create a globally recognised health and life sciences cluster. Meanwhile, Leeds has become a centre of excellence in med tech, Glasgow is establishing itself as a leader in quantum and photonics, and Birmingham is capitalising on its strengths in clean tech and advanced manufacturing, with innovation campuses like Tyseley Energy Park and Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.
In each case, we see the same pattern: regional stakeholders identifying their unique assets, building coalitions across academia, industry and public services, and developing the spaces, strategies and talent pipelines to match. This groundwork doesn't wait for central government support, it earns it.
If the UK wants to truly unlock the power of regional innovation, it must move beyond one-off funding packages and lean into long-term partnerships with local authorities, councils, metro mayors and institutions that have proven they can deliver.
The takeaway then isn't that Manchester is better – it's that it was prepared. The city offers a case study in how others can align infrastructure, leadership and industry to create self-sustaining innovation economies. And when this is done well, it doesn't just lead to local success, it attracts national investment.