The Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s Innovation for Impact report makes a compelling case: with the right conditions, the North could unlock up to £206 billion in additional GVA over the next decade. But while the report takes a pan-Northern view, the implications for Greater Manchester are particularly compelling — and full of opportunity.

At the heart of this opportunity is innovation. Not just the invention of new technologies, but the ability to embed innovation across the economy — from manufacturing and health to digital and creative industries. This is where Greater Manchester can lead.

Greater Manchester: A Region Built on Innovation

Greater Manchester has long been a centre of industrial ingenuity. Today, it is home to world-class universities, thriving tech clusters, and a growing ecosystem of innovative businesses. But as the NPP report highlights, the real challenge isn’t invention — it’s diffusion.

That’s where the GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation team plays a critical role. By working directly with businesses to adopt new technologies, improve processes, and build innovation capacity, the team helps turn potential into performance.

The Diffusion Challenge: Turning Innovation into Impact

The report identifies a key barrier to regional productivity: absorptive capacity — a business’s ability to take on and apply innovation. While Greater Manchester performs well in areas like digital infrastructure and professional services, many SMEs still face challenges in adopting innovation at scale.

This is where targeted support makes a difference. Through programmes like Made Smarter and tailored innovation services, the Hub helps businesses overcome barriers to adoption — from skills gaps to process redesign — and unlock new growth.

Innovation as Infrastructure: Building the Conditions for Growth

While national conversations often focus on funding, Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem shows that support goes beyond investment. What’s needed is a focus on:

• Skills development aligned with emerging technologies

• Collaborative platforms that connect SMEs, researchers, and industry leaders

• Innovation infrastructure — from testbeds to accelerators — that supports experimentation and scale

• Recognition of regional clusters in national strategy, including health innovation, advanced manufacturing, and digital tech

These are the building blocks of a resilient, high-performing economy — and the Innovation team is helping to lay them.

A Pan-Regional Role with Local Impact

Greater Manchester’s innovation strengths don’t exist in isolation. The region is uniquely positioned to act as a connector across the North, linking clusters, sharing best practice, and demonstrating what works.

The Hub’s work with SMEs, universities, and civic partners shows how place-based innovation support can drive inclusive growth — not just in high-tech sectors, but across the foundational economy.

Conclusion: Innovation as a Shared Mission

Innovation is more than a buzzword — it’s a strategy for resilience, productivity, and inclusive growth. For Greater Manchester, the challenge now is to scale what works, deepen collaboration, and ensure that innovation reaches every corner of the economy.

The GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation team is proud to be part of that mission — helping businesses to overcome barriers and commercialise their innovations.