Call for Liverpool to become an AI Growth Zone following government initiative

A Liverpool professor has welcomed the Government’s ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’ announced this week and has called for the Liverpool City Region to be considered for an AI Growth Zone to power its ‘AI for good’ ambitions.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled the action plan on Monday (January 13) which included news that New York City-based Kyndryl Holdings will establish a tech hub in Liverpool that will create 1,000 jobs over the next three years.
The city has world class skills in Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing and is investing in green energy with frontier projects like Mersey Tidal Power and is a centre for healthcare innovation.
Prof Carsten P Welsch is the Director of the Liverpool Centre for Doctoral Training for Innovation in Data Intensive Science (LIV.INNO).
The centre is building cutting-edge skills in AI and working with firms in the region to build their capacity in AI. He says the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan represents a transformative moment.
He says: “Liverpool led the first industrial revolution and would be an inspired choice for an AI Growth Zone.
“We already have deep academic expertise in AI, and strong international connections.
“By establishing an AI Growth Zone and significantly expanding computing capacity, this initiative has potential to attract businesses and create high quality jobs in our area.”
At a recent AI Summit in the city, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region (LCR), outlined his ambition to harness the power of AI for good. Also speaking at the event was Dr Nicola Hodson, CEO of IBM UK and Ireland, who was brought up in the region and studied at the University of Liverpool.
With its specialisms in accelerator science, the creative industries, infection medicine, novel materials, and advanced manufacturing, LCR offers potential for a dynamic innovation ecosystem aimed at solving societal challenges.
The Government’s ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’, developed by entrepreneur Matt Clifford, calls for the development of a flagship AI scholarship programme, which could also be supported in Liverpool.
LIV.INNO has a pioneering research training network, developed together with industry, that could provide insights for such a programme.
LIV.INNO attracts PhD students to work on research projects in particle and accelerator science, in addition to being seconded to industry.
This means students have skills in leading edge science, but also practical experience of applying these approaches in the real world.
Recent projects have included:
- Development of a mobile 3D x-ray scanner for rapid diagnosis of fractures
- Improving simulations and their application to enable more effective response to real-world challenges such as the Covid pandemic
- Improving worker safety on railways using historical data to help the network meet productivity targets safely
- Improving the support given to young people for mental health and wellbeing – analysis of how the digital tools were being used by young people, and training therapists to become more effective.
Prof Welsch says: “British scientist Tim Berners-Lee developed his ideas for the World Wide Web while working at CERN. Our students are building on this legacy, pushing the boundaries of AI.
“At LIV.INNO, we are excited to collaborate with industry and government to harness AI’s potential, driving innovation and economic growth that will benefit society at large.”
Meanwhile, a new report finds that Greater Manchester’s AI companies are now valued at $3.8bn, more than five times their 2020 valuation, and the city region is on a path of considerable growth.
The revelation was ahead of the upcoming launch of the 2025 Greater Manchester AI Catalyst Report, produced by Manchester non-profit the Turing Innovation Catalyst (TIC), which underscores the city region’s emergence as a European leader in AI innovation.
The report reveals that Manchester’s AI ecosystem attracted more than $583m in funding between 2021 and 2023, accounting for 28% of its total tech investments, and the city now ranks 13th in Europe for AI talent.
This new report dives into the transformative growth the city region is experiencing and explores how its booming AI ecosystem is setting new standards on the global stage.
The report not only showcases the city region’s impressive progress and international competitiveness but also outlines a strategic roadmap for leveraging AI to foster continued economic and social development.
Some of the report’s key findings include:
- Record Funding: ‘Between 2021 and 2023, Greater Manchester’s AI companies attracted more than $583m in funding – 28% of the total $2.03bn invested in the city’s tech sector’
- 2024 Growth: ‘So far in 2024, the city has secured $290m in venture capital, positioning it alongside top European tech cities such as Milan and Oxford’
- Global Recognition: ‘Manchester is now ranked as one of the fastest growing tech hubs in Europe, competing with cities like Madrid, Tallinn, and Lisbon’
The report will launch at a formal event in February.