A groundbreaking new partnership between Greater Manchester and Cambridge is strengthening ties between two of the UK’s most significant innovation ecosystems.
Mayor of Greater Manchester and GM Business Board memeber Andy Burnham, visited Cambridge this week alongside chair of the GM Business Board Lou Cordwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Duncan Ivision, joining the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Deborah Prentice, and academic, business and civil leaders from both places.
The visit builds on the formal relationship established last year by The University of Manchester and the University of Cambridge and its partner Innovate Cambridge.
The partnership – the first of its kind in the UK – aims to build closer relationships between universities and research institutions, accelerate the growth of start-ups and scale-ups, and attract more investment. Both places also want to create more inclusive economies, ensuring everyone can benefit from the opportunities created by innovation. Through closer collaboration, the partnership aims to plot a new way forward for research and development (R&D) and innovation-led growth.
The visit began with a tour of the Cambridge West Innovation District and a visit to the Cambridge Graphene Centre, followed by a tour of AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre (DISC), its state-of-the-art research facility and global corporate headquarters. The Mayors also officially opened The Glasshouse – Innovate Cambridge’s new innovation hub.
Through the partnership, AstraZeneca is set to extend its “AstraZeneca Exchange” science and business mentoring programme to Manchester. The programme, currently active in Cambridge, will help early-stage life-sciences businesses explore and develop their ideas more effectively by connecting them with scientific and commercial experts within the company. The types of mentoring partnerships provided are diverse and tailored to local needs, while supporting the development of sustainable ecosystems for healthcare.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Greater Manchester and Cambridge are two world-renowned centres of innovation. This partnership is breaking new ground, creating strong new ties between the North of England and the Golden Triangle to drive regional and national economic growth.
“Our two places have distinct identities and unique strengths, but we also have a lot in common – world-leading universities and dynamic, fast-growing economies. We also share an ambition for growth that benefits everyone, with more people and businesses able to access the opportunities created by innovation. By working together, we can be greater than the sum of our parts.”
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said:
“It was fantastic to welcome Mayor Burnham back to our region. This visit highlights our pioneering partnership with Greater Manchester, where our ambitions for innovation-led growth and our strengths in academia and R&D, offer great opportunities for collaboration, exemplified by the opening of The Glasshouse.”
Investment in science and technology was one of the key themes of last week’s Autumn Budget. The government announced £20.4bn of research and development (R&D) funding, the highest ever level of government investment, as well as a commitment to fully fund the UK’s association with Horizon Europe. Greater Manchester’s Innovation Accelerator programme – which has funded 10 transformative R&D projects across the city-region – was also extended into 2025/26.
Chair of Greater Manchester Business Board and Professor of Innovation at the University of Manchester, Lou Cordwell, said:
“This partnership is a groundbreaking initiative – bringing together two of the UK’s leading innovation cities to help us achieve more. Whether it’s researchers, entrepreneurs, established businesses or investors, we want to support a flow of innovation between our two places. Hearing from the Mayors, local leaders, businesses and universities today, the scale of the opportunity and level of ambition was clear and we’re excited to take the partnership further.”
Secretary of State for Science and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:
“It is great to see this innovative partnership between Greater Manchester and Cambridge. Partnerships like these – bringing together civic leadership, entrepreneurial talent and academic excellence – are the route to driving the future economic growth and transformation Britain needs.
“This collaboration, between the Northern Powerhouse and the Golden Triangle, is testimony to the ability of regional mayors to drive change in their areas and the shared commitment of leading businesses and world-class universities to reap the benefits for our communities, our companies and our country.”
President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester, Duncan Ivison, said:
“To keep the UK at the forefront of a truly inclusive growth agenda, we need to supercharge innovation – linking capital, talent, and research in ways that drive new economic growth. Working collaboratively, the partnership will build on the strengths of both cities’ universities and innovation ecosystems to deliver real benefits for our regions and beyond.
“Our ambition is to power an inclusive economy, positioning Manchester and Cambridge as central players on the global stage to accelerate growth for all in society.”
The Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, Professor Deborah Prentice said:
“This collaboration between our two cities and universities is a testament to our shared ambition and the immense opportunities ahead. Over the past five years, we’ve seen thousands of co-publications as well as deep collaboration in graphene and materials research, showcasing the power of our joint efforts. This partnership isn’t just about what we’ve achieved; it’s about what we’re building – a dynamic platform to connect and strengthen our innovation ecosystems for the future.”
Shaun Grady, Chairman of AstraZeneca UK, said:
“We were delighted to host this visit at The Discovery Centre (DISC), which sits at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – Europe’s largest life sciences cluster. We know innovation doesn’t happen in isolation, and by forming partnerships and supporting growth, we can benefit the whole life sciences ecosystem. That is why we are proud to extend AstraZeneca’s Exchange Mentoring programme for entrepreneurs and start-ups to Greater Manchester, which will further cement the partnership between these two great cities of innovation.”
