A major new partnership designed to accelerate UK innovation and address some of the world’s biggest challenges has been formally launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Liverpool, the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council, and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
The agreement brings together two of the UK’s strongest innovation ecosystems – the Liverpool City Region, known for its world‑leading research assets and strong industry–academic collaborations, and Oxford, one of the world’s foremost centres of scientific excellence.
The partnership aims to strengthen the UK’s ability to translate breakthrough science into new companies, scale-ups, high‑value jobs and foreign direct investment.
The MoU establishes the foundation for a major new programme designed to:
- Accelerate the commercialisation of cutting‑edge research
- Support the growth of new ventures and scale‑ups
- Ensure more innovation-led firms remain based in the UK
- Attract further private and international investment
The collaboration will also draw together the expertise and infrastructure of the UK’s two national research and innovation campuses, both operated by the Science & Technology Facilities Council. These are STFC Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region, and STFC Harwell near Oxford. These complementary facilities will form a core backbone of the partnership’s research and innovation pipeline.
The partnership aligns with Mayor Steve Rotheram’s ambition to more than double annual R&D investment to £2 billion by 2030, which could create up to 40,000 new jobs.
Commenting on the agreement, Mayor Rotheram said:
“For generations, the Liverpool City Region has been an engine of change – from powering the first industrial revolution to shaping breakthroughs in modern science. That spirit of innovation hasn’t gone anyway. It’s alive and well here and it’s central to my vision to build the stronger, fairer economy our people and businesses deserve.
“I’ve set a clear ambition for the Liverpool City Region to invest 5% of our GVA into research and development by 2030 because I want the next big breakthrough, the next world-leading business, the next life-changing discovery to create jobs and opportunity right here at home.
“This partnership with Oxford is the next step on that journey. By linking two places with world-class brands, we can back British innovation, attract investment, and make sure that great ideas don’t drift overseas but are developed, scaled and rooted here in the UK.
“This is a nationally significant collaboration that will deliver benefits far beyond Liverpool or Oxford – showing what’s possible when regions come together to drive growth and innovation, strengthen our economy, and position the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future.”
Alongside Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Oxfordshire County Council Leader Cllr Liz Leffman, the MoU was signed by Professor Irene Tracey (Vice-Chancellor at the University of Oxford) and Professor Tim Jones (Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool).
Leaders from both regions emphasised the national opportunity presented by closer collaboration between two of the UK’s most research‑intensive and innovation‑driven places.
The agreement highlights areas where Oxfordshire and the Liverpool City Region have deep, complementary strengths, including:
- Chemistry and materials science
- Vaccine development
- Infection prevention and control
- Neuroscience
- Women’s health
- Climate resilience and net‑zero innovation
The partnership also creates opportunities across the heritage, creative and social sciences sectors, and will support entrepreneurship through joint programmes, events, and student‑ and academic‑led venture creation schemes.
By linking the innovation strengths of both regions, the collaboration aims to create a seamless inter‑regional ecosystem, helping to attract domestic and international investment, generate high‑value jobs, strengthen the UK’s global position in science and technology, and support innovation-led economic growth across the country.
Leaders say the MoU represents a significant step toward unlocking the full potential of the UK’s research base, helping ensure scientific discoveries translate into real‑world impact.
Image credit: iStock
