In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor, Philip Hammond, gave the go ahead to "Innovation South", a consortium made up of 94 partners including businesses, 6 LEP areas, universities (including University of Brighton, University of Chichester and University of the Creative Arts) and local authorities, for a government backed science & innovation audit.
"Innovation South" made a powerful bid to ministers setting out a strong case that the South is unrivalled for its innovation and industrial capabilities in a combination of digital enabling technologies, with applications in key hi-tech sectors: Connected Digital, Bio Science, Advanced Engineering and Marine & Maritime.
Success in the bid means we will now work, with government support, to map these areas of outstanding commercial strength in science and innovation and collect a robust and compelling evidence base for investing in the area. The Audit will particularly highlight where there is potential for the region, and therefore the UK, to lead the world. This will help test the potential for these areas to build and develop world-leading ideas, products and technologies that will create jobs, increase UK productivity and drive growth.
Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive of Coast to Capital LEP, said: "This is excellent news and positions the South of England as a region of world leading innovators and entrepreneurs. This is also recognition of the innovation and research that exists within the Coast to Capital region specifically in creative digital technologies, medical technologies and advanced engineering. Coast to Capital played a key part in the development of the proposal. Working with partners in 'Innovation South' provides an opportunity for our businesses and universities to build the networks and the supply chains across the region to drive research investment and develop world-class technologies, products and services."
The Consortium which is led by Enterprise M3 LEP, embraces six local enterprise partnership areas, 38 businesses and business groups, 16 universities, and stretches from Dorset across Sussex to Kent, and from the Isle of Wight up to Reading and importantly is supported by a wide range of innovative businesses, from global corporates to SMEs and micros.
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