Delivering innovation-led growth and raising productivity are key to the mission of Kickstarting Economic Growth. For the North, where productivity lags, this represents an opportunity to narrow the gap with other parts of the UK and to raise living standards for all people in the region.

However, we know that to deliver growth, the formation of new ideas and the development of technologies from fundamental research alone is not enough. We also need to ensure that these ideas and technologies are developed and ultimately taken to market to benefit businesses and consumers. Strengthening this innovation ecosystem in the North is key to the economic growth and improved productivity that we all desire.

The N8 universities are supporting the development of this ecosystem in our places, through partnerships with local government and business on policy and to drive investment, and through their world-class facilities. They are also catalysing growth in key sectors such as the bioeconomy and creative industries, and supporting the development of new industrial clusters.