City’s innovation summit to attract global business leaders

Almost 200 delegates will attend Liverpool City Region’s third Innovation Investment Summit next month, bringing together business leaders from around the world to blend global experience with local knowledge to drive the innovation agenda.

Aimed at connecting policy holders, regional stakeholders, business leaders and advisers from across the private and public sectors, the one-day conference will give exclusive insight and access to the region’s leading innovators and funders.

The event will take place at the Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Student Life Building, which will welcome around 180 guests and up to 20 speakers.

Liverpool City Region has set an ambitious target to invest five per cent of its GVA in Research & Development (R&D) by 2030. That’s nearly double the Government’s target of investing at least 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027, as the UK strives to consolidate its position as a science and innovation superpower.

Achieving the city region’s five per cent target would deliver an estimated £41.7bn of gross economic benefit, a 10% increase in productivity and 44,000 new jobs.

Liverpool City Region has spearheaded a series of landmark innovation initiatives since the first Innovation Investment Summit.

In 2022, the first ever Liverpool City Region Innovation Prospectus was published highlighting the area’s world leading strengths in infection prevention and control, materials chemistry, and AI solutions, plus emerging capabilities in net zero and maritime technologies.

Later that year, the city region was chosen to pilot Innovate UK’s national Launchpad grant programme, reflecting the region’s highly developed place-based innovation approach.

Liverpool City Region also agreed the country’s first place-based partnership and action plan with Innovate UK and in 2023 a landmark innovation deal was signed with South Korea’s second city, Busan, as part of a major UK government-South Korea innovation twinning programme.

The region has become one of only three places in the UK to benefit from both Invesment Zone and Freeport status. The Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone started operating this month, paving the way for up to £800m of public and private investment and 8,000 new jobs through projects to create new hi-tech facilities, provide business and innovation support and train the next generation of talent.

A new £5.1m partnership has also been forged between the University of Liverpool’s VEC (Virtual Engineering Centre), Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and Edge Hill University to support business innovation.

The Innovation Investment Summit is expected to attract investors, entrepreneurs, industry experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the UK and internationally. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, forge partnerships and explore investment prospects in one of the UK’s most dynamic and promising regions.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Executive Director Investment and Delivery, Dr Aileen Jones, said: “The city region has a rich history of innovation, and we continue to change the world for the better.

“We’ve made huge strides since the first Innovation Investment Summit in 2022. We now have a Freeport and a Life Sciences Investment Zone offering significant opportunities to businesses and investors wishing to capitalise on our world leading capabilities.

“This event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate and showcase the creativity, entrepreneurship and scientific brilliance that drives our famous, dynamic, inclusive and forward-thinking city region.”

LYVA Labs is partnering with the combined authority on the summit. Lorna Green, LYVA Labs Chief Executive, said: “Together we will showcase the distinctive world leading assets and capabilities that are catalysing wider innovation clusters across Liverpool City Region and beyond.”

Steve Stuart, Chair of LYVA Labs, said: “The last three years have been transformational for the Liverpool City Region.

“We have now reached a position where the dynamic LCR Innovation ecosystem cultivates a fertile ground for transformative ideas, driving progress across industries. From cutting edge research in biotechnology to vibrant cultural initiatives, Liverpool’s dedication to fostering creativity and collaboration fuels its position as a global hub of innovation.”