Up to £800m of public and private investment and 8,000 new jobs are set to be unlocked by the launch of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities triggered the first instalment of government investment, which will add up to £160m.
The investment zone plan includes 21 initial projects that local leaders hope will boost the economy by creating state-of-the-art facilities, delivering business and innovation support, and training the next generation of talent.
Two new sites are being proposed at Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and Sci-Tech Daresbury in a bid to provide extra commercial laboratory space and improve the city region’s infection innovation capacity.
As well as major schemes at Maghull Health Park, St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus, and Earlsfield Park Knowsley, programmes will focus on:
- Child health
- Infection control
- Vaccines
- Personalised medicine
- Data and AI
“This is a landmark moment that promises to unlock huge amounts of funding and investment to drive the city region’s life sciences sector to the next level,” said Dr Aileen Jones, the executive director for investment and delivery at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Public Sector Executive is set to host a dedicated ‘Levelling Up’ online conference later this year, where leaders from across government will join to offer insight and discussion.
Aileen added: “It heralds a new chapter in the city region’s economy that will help drive our world-leading innovation and create thousands of good quality, well paid jobs and training opportunities.”
Plans were developed in partnership with the University of Liverpool and the city region’s wider life sciences sector.
The newly established Health and Life Sciences Cluster Board will preside over future work for the investment zone.
Image credits: iStock & Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
