Delivered through the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) and led by The Open University with regional partners, the programme will focus on turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact – supporting jobs, investment and long-term economic growth.

The funding builds on the area’s established strengths in autonomous systems, high-performance engineering and dual-use space and defence technologies. By improving digital connectivity and linking testbeds across the region, it will create a more coordinated and scalable innovation ecosystem.

Announcing the funding, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, said:

“The funding will strengthen world leading engineering and space technology, helping turn scientific excellence into jobs and economic growth.”

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Alistair Lomax said:

“The number of bids that a region like this can bring forward is impressive. This was one of a number that responded to the rich innovation ecosystem. The timing is significant, coming just after Government confirmed £400 million investment in a Development Corporation at the Oxford end of the corridor, mirroring its commitment in Cambridge. It is particularly encouraging to see the distinct strengths of the central region recognised in this way, and we look forward to supporting the next steps. Congratulations to all those involved.” 

The programme reflects a shift from strategy to delivery – accelerating how ideas move from research to application, and from local pilots to commercial scale.

Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, said:

“This Innovation Circuit positions the region as the nation’s ‘engine room’ for applied innovation, where breakthroughs move rapidly from lab to street, and from street to scale.”

Professor Leon A. Terry, Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Education and Research at Cranfield University said:

I’m delighted to see that our bid to the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund is progressing – it will support our collaborative work across high performance engineering, connected and autonomous systems and dual-use technologies which promise to grow the local economy and spark investment.”

Partners across the region will now work with UK Research and Innovation to shape projects focused on collaborative R&D, talent development and clear routes to investment and new markets.

For the Arc Universities Group, this investment reinforces the importance of collaboration between universities, industry and local partners in unlocking growth at scale and delivering tangible economic impact across the Corridor.

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