2035 Greater Manchester Innovation Plan

Greater Manchester has launched a new plan to take the city region from a leading UK innovation economy to a globally recognised innovation hub by 2035. 

The ambition is set out in the new 2035 Greater Manchester Innovation Plan, launched today by Mayor Bev Craig and Innovation Greater Manchester Chair Andrew Hodgson at the Greater Manchester Innovation Expo 2026.  

Hosted by the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, the event brought together hundreds of business leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors to showcase our science and technology strengths and build partnerships for future growth. 

Over the past decade, Greater Manchester has grown at double the rate of the rest of the UK, as the total value of our economy has exceeded £100 billion for the first time, and we’ve recorded the strongest productivity growth of anywhere in the country.  

Supporting innovation, particularly in our priority sectors, has been crucial to that growth. The Innovation Plan outlines how, with further devolved powers and the right government backing, Greater Manchester is ready to go even further in the years to come and become one of Europe’s leading second-city economies. 

It also puts also good growth at its heart, setting out how innovation will create high-quality jobs that are accessible to everyone, improve living standards, and strengthen public services across Greater Manchester. 

Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “A more innovative economy means more jobs, higher wages and better living standards for people in Greater Manchester.  

"We already have one of the strongest innovation ecosystems in the country, but we know we have what it takes to become one of the best in the world. This plan puts inclusive innovation at its heart. It's not just about growing businesses and creating high-quality jobs, but improving public services and ensuring communities across Greater Manchester benefit. Its five pillars give government, business, universities and partners a shared framework to attract more investment and turn more ideas into real-world impact.” 

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Greater Manchester has a long and rich history of innovation, and this new plan sets out an exciting vision to turn a new generation of brilliant ideas into jobs, growth and opportunity across the city-region.  

“By championing its strengths, from life sciences to advanced manufacturing and AI to the creative industries, this rightly ambitious plan will build on the immense potential of the people that live and work here to build a global powerhouse for growth over the coming years.” 

Over the next decade, Greater Manchester will build on its scientific excellence by growing R&D-intensive businesses, supporting start-ups and scale-ups, developing local skills, attracting global talent and securing international investment. 

Working with UK Government, we will unlock the potential of our sector strengths and industrial clusters, supporting the long-term ambitions of the Modern Industrial Strategy.  

Developed by Innovation Greater Manchester and partners, the plan is built around five cross-cutting pillars: 

• Create a world-class environment for innovation commercialisation 

• Enhance navigation of the Greater Manchester and UK innovation ecosystem 

• Accelerate Greater Manchester innovation investment 

• Create an innovation-ready, globally competitive workforce 

• Attract and integrate world-class commercial innovation 

Andrew Hodgson OBE, Chair of Innovation Greater Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester brings together outstanding universities, national research facilities and innovative businesses to turn ideas into successful products and better public services.  

“Shaped with hundreds of businesses, universities, colleges, NHS leaders, charities and government partners, the plan is a shared commitment to build on our progress, maximise devolution and secure the investment, talent, infrastructure and global connections needed to become a world-leading innovation hub.” 

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester’s superpower is its collaboration, and you can see that in this new strategy that we’re proud to have contributed to.  

“We have outlined our ambition for The University of Manchester to become an innovation powerhouse, connecting students and researchers into a network that few other places can rival. At the heart of this mission is creating partnerships and ideas that make meaningful change in people’s lives. The Greater Manchester Innovation Plan gives us a shared platform for action, and we’re excited to work with partners to turn that shared ambition into impact.” 

Progress 

Since the 2022 Local Innovation Plan, Greater Manchester has turned investment into measurable results. The £43 million Innovation Accelerator supported 10 projects, brought 218 products and services to market, created 186 jobs and secured £53 million in private co-investment. 

The next phase will invest £50 million through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund from 2026 to 2031, accelerating ideas from prototype to market in advanced materials and manufacturing, health innovation and applied AI. 

This is backed by almost £10 million for the Innovation Navigation Service and £5 million for the Further Education Innovation Programme, helping businesses access expertise, funding and routes to market while strengthening capacity across Greater Manchester’s nine colleges. The University of Manchester’s £10 million Founders Fund will help turn research into high-growth businesses, while the near £2 billion Good Growth Fund will unlock employment and innovation space across the city region. 

Vector Homes shows this approach in action. Support from the GM Business Growth Hub and university facilities helped it test sustainable materials, develop a prototype eco-home and move a graphene-enhanced product towards market. The company has leveraged more than £600,000 and is creating five full-time jobs as it scales. 

Global diagnostics company QIAGEN has established its European Centre of Excellence for Precision Medicine at CityLabs with Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester. The partnership is developing diagnostics, creating high-value roles and strengthening Greater Manchester’s capabilities in genomics and precision medicine. 

Innovation Greater Manchester co-ordinates the city region’s innovation activity. Established in 2020 by business, universities and local government, it drives productivity through collaboration, research and innovation.