Mayors in areas including Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Greater London will be handed control of Local Innovation Partnership funding.

After the next Spending Review, they will be given the ability to decide how and where to target regional R&D investment through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund on their own doorstep. 

The Fund supports partnerships of local leaders, businesses and universities to turn existing research breakthroughs into practical solutions that back local businesses, create jobs and improve people’s lives. 

Joining mayors and local officials on a visit to Liverpool today, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed plans to pass future control of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund in England to regional leaders, with the change expected to kick in during the next Spending Review period.