Focusing on digital technology, materials chemistry and tackling infectious diseases could help create a more high-skilled, high-value economy in the greater Merseyside area. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool city region can create work class clusters in digital technology, materials chemistry and tackling infectious diseases, a new reports says.
The Liverpool City Region+ Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) outlines how “collaborations, investments and interventions” can transform the city region into a more high-skilled, hi-tech economy.
The report, commissioned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), sets out the ambitions in the three key areas.
The city region has a fast-growing digital sector with facilities such as the Hartree Centre at the national innovation campus at Sci-Tech Daresbury focusing on high-performance computing and big data.
Materials chemistry is all about innovation in developing new ways of manufacturing and in Liverpool we have consumer giant Unilever’s £24million Advanced Manufacturing Centre, the University of Liverpool’s £65m Materials Innovation Factory and the £15m Sensor City project.
In terms of infectious diseases the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has already established a world class reputation for its groundbreaking work.
Bringing many of these elements together is Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, a £2bn project covering 450 acres of the city.
The BEIS audit was undertaken by six partners: Liverpool City Council (on behalf of the Combined Authority), Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Science and Technology Facilities at Daresbury, Unilever and the University of Liverpool.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “This completely underscores my optimism about the future of the city region.
“We were the gateway to the first industrial revolution and I believe we can become an exemplar city for a Fourth Industrial Revolution economy.
“We have an exceptional collection of science and innovation assets, and my job will be to ensure we fully realise their potential.”