Glasgow secures leading role in Westminster’s £500m push for innovation

Glasgow City Region has been awarded £30m as part of the UK’s wide-reaching plan to boost local economies via innovation.

The Scottish region – made up eight local councils – is one of 10 UK areas to receive the funding designed to push tech clusters across the country.  

UK science minister Lord Vallance said: “The Glasgow City Region has a proud history of transformative innovation and by working with local leaders who know their city best, this fund can help capitalise on the skills and drive that have earned that global reputation as a hub of science and technology.

“That could mean bolstering Glasgow’s space cluster to unlock new opportunities beyond our planet or building on its history of cutting-edge medical technology, but ultimately this can back a wide range of research which can improve everyday lives and help deliver our Plan for Change for the UK.”

The funding falls under the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) of up to £500m, which was set up to give local communities control over how their research and development investment is spent based on local expertise and economic needs.

Partnerships between the city region authority, businesses and research organisations will work with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to invest in key tech areas including life sciences, green energy solutions and artificial intelligence.

The Scottish region is one of three devolved areas to have secured funding, with Belfast-Derry and Cardiff also awarded a £30m investment.

Scotland minister Kirsty McNeill said: "This £30m investment in Glasgow City Region is great news. We are backing Glasgow's world-class expertise in areas like medical technology and advanced manufacturing while supporting local jobs and skills."