Cambridge and Greater Manchester strengthen innovation partnership with opening of new hub

Image credit: Nick Saffell, University of Cambridge

Cambridge and Greater Manchester have strengthened their strategic partnership announced in 2023 with the opening of a new innovation hub earlier this month.

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, visited Cambridge on 5 November to officially open The Glasshouse – Innovate Cambridge’s new innovation hub alongside his Cambridgeshire and Peterborough counterpart, Nik Johnson.

Leading academic, business and civil figures from both cities were in attendance for the opening of the new hub on Hills Road, which is designed to enable science and tech firms to share ideas and expertise.

The delegation started its day with a tour of Cambridge’s West Innovation District, an area known for its cutting-edge facilities and academic institutions. The tour was led by Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, University of Cambridge, who highlighted the district’s role in driving forward innovation in areas ranging from aerospace to zero-carbon technologies.

Speaking about his counterpart’s visit, Dr Nik Johnson, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Mayor Burnham back to our region. This visit highlights our pioneering partnership with Greater Manchester, where our ambitions for innovation-led growth and our strengths in academia and R&D, offer great opportunities for collaboration, exemplified by the opening of The Glasshouse.”

The Vice-Chancellor’s trip to Cambridge followed hot on the heels of the new government’s first Budget, in which research and development (R&D) is cited as one of the Chancellor’s key priorities. An increase in public R&D investment of £20.4bn in 2025/26 was announced in addition to a boosted budget of £13.9bn for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The partnership between Cambridge and Greater Manchester – the first of its kind in the UK – is aimed at leveraging the combined strengths of both to fuel the growth of start-ups, attract investment, and foster inclusive economic development across the UK.

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