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 by Mayor Bev Craig and Innovation Greater Manchester Chair Andrew Hodgson at the Greater Manchester Innovation Expo 2026.
Hosted by the GM 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, and the total value of its economy has exceeded £100 billion for the first time.
“A more innovative economy means more jobs, higher wages and better living standards for people in Greater Manchester,” said Craig.
“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.”
The plan puts forward a vision for the next decade, with Greater Manchester building on its scientific excellence by growing R&D-intensive businesses, supporting start-ups and scaleups, developing local skills, attracting global talent and securing international investment.
Developed by Innovation Greater Manchester and partners, the plan is built around five 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; and attract and integrate world-class commercial innovation.
Since the 2022 Local Innovation Plan, Greater Manchester has turned investment into measurable results, according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The £43 million Innovation Accelerator supported 10 projects, brought 218 products and services to market, created 186 jobs and secured £53m in private co-investment.
The next phase will invest £50m through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund from 2026 to 2031.
Delivered by UK Government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and local innovation partnerships, the Fund brings together local leaders, businesses and research organisations to build on a region’s distinctive strengths and turn them into lasting economic growth.
In Greater Manchester it will accelerate ideas from prototype to market in advanced materials and manufacturing, health innovation and applied AI.
This is backed by almost £10m for the Innovation Navigation Service and £5m 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 £10m 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.
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.”
Hodgson 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.”