They will bring benefits to regional and local economies and communities including new jobs, skills development, private investment and the growth of start-ups. The projects include:
- accelerating digital healthcare technology to market in Belfast to reduce the pressures of an ageing population
- strengthening the offshore renewable energy cluster in the Forth and Tay region to help deliver Scotland’s net zero emissions target
- launching the East Midlands as the UK’s ‘Rehab Tech Valley’ to deliver pioneering technology that will transform how people recover from injury and illness
The projects are led by consortia of universities, civic bodies, businesses and local authorities and are supported by a £22 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Unleashing the potential of innovation clusters
EPSRC Executive Chair, Professor Charlotte Deane, said:
The seven projects announced today will harness regional research and innovation strengths to unleash the potential of emerging and existing innovation clusters across the UK.
Our investment will strengthen partnerships between UK universities, civic bodies and local businesses to create new jobs, improve skills and boost regional economic growth that will benefit places and communities directly.
Benefitting regional and local economies
The projects are being funded through EPSRC’s Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme, which provides research organisations with flexible funding enabling them to drive impacts from their research portfolio through a wide range of activities.
Each consortium focuses on a scientific theme in engineering and physical sciences research and targets a specific geographical area to support the expansion or development of a research and innovation cluster.
Further information
Discover the impact of EPSRC’s UK investments on regional growth
Explore our collection of impact stories to see how EPSRC’s funding is driving growth across the UK.
The PBIAA projects are as follows.
Digital Healthcare Technology Impact Accelerator (DHTA)
Led by: Professor James McLaughlin, Ulster University
University and civic partners:
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Belfast City Council
- Invest Northern Ireland
- Belfast Hospital and Social Care Trust
- Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland)
- Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland
EPSRC investment: £2.5 million
This project will accelerate digital healthcare technology research impact in the Belfast metropolitan area to reduce pressures from an ageing population.
It will deliver new medical diagnostic products and improve health service delivery technology that will strengthen industry, patient-care accessibility and reduce health inequalities.
It builds upon a successful and dynamic ecosystem that has already seen the development of portable defibrillators and artificial intelligence (AI) powered electrocardiogram diagnosis platforms.
The cluster will support Northern Ireland’s life and health sector which provides £1.3 billion in gross added value to the economy every year and directly employs 27,300 people. Over time, the DHTA is expected to add an additional 3,000 jobs to the Northern Ireland economy.
East Midlands Emerging Rehabilitation Technology Growth Enterprise (EMERGE)
Led by: Professor John Hunt, Nottingham Trent University
University and civic partners:
- Loughborough University
- University of Derby
- University of Nottingham
- Charnwood Borough Council
- D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
- Leicestershire County Council
- Nottingham City Council
- East Midlands Combined County Authority
- Midlands Engine
EPSRC investment: £2.5 million
This project will launch the East Midlands as the UK’s ‘RehabTech Valley’, delivering Rehabilitation Technology (RehabTech) that will transform how people recover, regain fitness and function following injury or illness.
It will build mechanisms to connect the East Midlands’ cluster of 459 medical and health technology businesses, which employs 11,700 people and has an annual turnover of £1.9 billion. This investment will ensure they dominate the design, development and delivery of pioneering RehabTech.
Research will be employed to accelerate the delivery of new products to market including sensors for non-invasive health monitoring and smart medical wearables. This will help boost regional growth and productivity.
Accelerating innovation in the Forth and Tay offshore wind cluster
Led by: Professor Alasdair McDonald, University of Edinburgh
University and civic partners:
- University of Dundee
- Forth and Tay Offshore
EPSRC investment: £2.5 million
This project aims to join university research strengths in offshore wind engineering, environmental and social sciences to drive growth of offshore renewable energy in the Forth and Tay region. This will help to deliver Scotland’s net zero emissions target by 2045.
It will achieve this through innovation and sharing of expertise into developers, ports, supply chains and policymakers. Research facilities will address challenges in areas such as the design and manufacture of floating wind turbines, offshore wind anchors and marine biology.
The vision is that by 2030 the region will be home to a thriving, internationally competitive offshore energy supply chain that serves local, national and international projects.
North East Space Communications Accelerator (NESCA)
Led by: Professor Vincent Barrioz, Northumbria University
University and civic partners:
- Durham University
- Newcastle University
- North East Combined Authority
- Space North East England
- North East Space Leadership Group
EPSRC investment: £2.4 million
This co-created project will support the emerging cluster of world-class space research and developments in north-east England, providing a vibrant region for space businesses to grow.
NESCA will build on recent investments in the region’s space infrastructure to create new opportunities for knowledge exchange, commercialisation of research and skills development. These opportunities will lead to high-skilled jobs and a growth in regional industry presence from space-focused businesses.
NESCA will focus specifically on the development of innovative themes enabling new resilient space communications, including:
- technologies
- space sustainability
- in-space opportunities
- terrestrial application
- smart, resilient networks
These are innovative themes in which the northeast of England has already developed a reputation of excellence.
CyberFocus: cyber impact for the North West
Led by: Professor Daniel Prince, Lancaster University
University and civic partners:
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Cumbria
- University of Liverpool
- The University of Manchester
- University of Salford
- Team Barrow (Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems)
- Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
- Cumbria LEP
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority
- Lancashire County Council
EPSRC investment: £4.9 million
Building on the foundations set by the CyberCom programme, the CyberFocus project will fuel the socio-economic potential of the north-west cyber sector to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of cutting-edge cyber security.
It will strengthen collaborations between higher education institutions, civic and industrial partners so that regional strategic investments in cyber are realised.
The project benefits from the arrival of Government Communications Headquarters in Manchester and the imminent arrival of the National Cyber Force in Lancashire. It will foster cross-cluster collaborations with other regional specialisms in aerospace, defence, nuclear and manufacturing.
This PBIAA is expected to:
- create 85 new collaborative partnerships
- develop 400 new products, processes or services
- secure £40 million in additional funding for the region
- train 300 individuals in cyber innovation skills
Nuclear robotics and AI cluster across Cumbria and Oxfordshire
Led by: Dr Kirsty Hewitson, UK Atomic Energy Authority
University and civic partners:
- University of Cumbria
- The University of Manchester
- University of Oxford
- Team Barrow (Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems)
- Cumberland Council
- South Oxfordshire District Council
- Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
- Oxfordshire County Council
EPSRC contribution: £4.9 million
This project focuses on nuclear robotics and AI. It will link Cumbria and Oxfordshire to accelerate the decommissioning of the country’s nuclear legacy and remove people from harm.
Led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, it will connect academia with the supply chain. There will be commercial opportunities from cross-sector engagement and spin-out company formation that will attract investment with significant potential for knowledge and technology transfer between the areas.
The cluster expects to:
- create 200 business opportunities
- establish 10 spin-out companies
- generate 200 new jobs
- engage 5,000 people in cluster-driven events
Maritime and Last Mile Net Zero (MaLaMi)
Led by: Professor Zaili Yang Liverpool John Moores University
University and civic partners:
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Liverpool
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Sefton Council
- Wirral Council
- Knowsley Council
- Liverpool City Region (LCR) Freeport
EPSRC contribution: £2.5 million
This project will accelerate maritime transport decarbonisation and enhance low-carbon logistics in the LCR and its associated green shipping corridor to Belfast.
The LCR is home to a rapidly growing port and maritime economy that handles 45% of UK trade from North America and is estimated to contribute £800 million in gross value added to the economy.
MaLaMi will bring greater cohesion and join up researchers, civic bodies and businesses to drive innovation across the maturing LCR maritime cluster that covers areas including commercial shipping, transport, fuels and vessel designs.
This investment will:
- lead to the translation of research and technology into commercial applications that will benefit the maritime industry
- provide insights that could be extended to national levels
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