Greater Manchester is a leader in entrepreneurial activity, including start-up rates, the local concentration of Unicorn businesses, and fast growth in key areas.  

As a result, the Greater Manchester Science & Innovation Audit 2025 has identified the region's key economic strengths across:

Health Innovation & Life Sciences

Energy Infrastructure & Transition

Advanced Materials

Creative and Media

AI & Data Analytics

Software Engineering

Business Process Management.

All of these sectors create significant growth opportunities for the region and have been informed and shaped by industry leadership and local plans for growth. They present the biggest opportunities for innovation-led, inclusive economic growth across the whole of Greater Manchester.

More information on the key frontier sectors can be found in the articles below.