Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology visited the University of Liverpool, alongside Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve RotheramLiz Kendall (Technology Secretary), visiting the University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)Liverpool is set to receive £23.7m in government funding, designed to fuel new industries and technologies, which officials say will drive the ‘growth, jobs and businesses of the future’. It comes as mayors across England, including Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, are set to be given expanded powers to boost jobs and growth within their areas.The announcement was made during a visit from Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall who was touring Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory this afternoon (June 1), to explore the city’s Knowledge Quarter’, and discussed the importance of science and technology for the region, as well as a word on Andy Burnham’s election campaign.After the next Spending Review, the government said Mayors of Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities will be given the ability to decide how and where to target regional R&D investment through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIP), all on their own doorstep.The LIP fund aims to support partnerships between local leaders, businesses and universities, to turn existing research breakthroughs into ‘practical solutions’.Liz Kendall (Technology Secretary), visiting the University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)£500 million has already been committed for the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund between 2026-31, and will help support innovative businesses in 17 regions across the country. This includes two projects led by the University of Liverpool, which is set to receive £23.7m of the £30 million LIP funding for the region.One project, AIM HI, will accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and robotics in materials chemistry, to increase productivity and new business growth. The other project, NBIC LIVE, will establish the world’s first centre of innovation excellence dedicated to AI-enabled rapid innovation of antimicrobial, anti-viral, and anti-biofilm surfaces and materials.Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: “The projects being backed in our region today show exactly what can happen when you trust places like ours to lead from the front. We’ve got world-class expertise here in the Liverpool City Region and this investment will help turn that innovation into good jobs, new industries and real opportunities for local people.“But the really important part of today’s announcement is about what comes next. For too long, decisions about funding and investment have been made in Whitehall by people too far removed from the strengths and challenges of our communities. Giving mayors greater control over future innovation funding is another important step towards putting those decisions in local hands.Liz Kendall (Technology Secretary), with Steve Rotheram (Mayor of Liverpool City Region), on a visit to the University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)“Whether it’s life sciences, AI, advanced manufacturing or clean energy, we’ve shown time and again that our region can compete with anyone when we’re given the tools to do it. This is about backing our strengths, growing the economy and making sure the benefits are felt by the people who live here.”Providing a tour of Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, Professor Tim Jones said good way of understanding what MIF does is to imagine Liverpool being at the centre of ‘Tomorrow’s World’ but also with a stake in delivering innovation in the short-to-mid-term as well.In relation to the funding announcement, Professor Jones added: “This funding recognises the power of partnership between universities, industry and civic leaders. Through AIM-HI and NBIC-LIVE, the University of Liverpool will help accelerate world-leading advances in AI-enabled materials chemistry and life science, while creating new opportunities for businesses, researchers and the LCR workforce.“The projects have been developed through strong partnership working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and our industry partners The LCR LIPF projects will foster long-term economic growth and support high-value jobs whilst securing our region’s reputation as a global centre for scientific and technological innovation.”Joining Mayor Rotheram, Professor Jones and other local officials in Liverpool today (June 1), was Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, who confirmed plans to pass future control of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund to regional leaders, with the change expected to kick in during the next Spending Review period.The University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)Ms Kendall said: “Science and technology is the ultimate driver of growth, and this Government is determined to ensure every region shares in the prosperity brought about by innovation.“Through the future devolution of Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, we are putting money and power into the hands of regional leaders that know the strengths of their communities best, allowing them to back local businesses, encourage innovation and create the high-quality jobs that will drive the growth these regions need now and in the future.”Responding to a question about the upcoming Makerfield by-election, Ms Kendall confirms she is making her way to the constituency after visiting Liverpool, to show support for Andy Burnham’s campaign, adding: [Andy] will be an incredible MP for the Makerfield.”She continued: “I think he’ll be a passionate advocate for the people there, and he will want to do everything to make government work for people there, and I’ll be very proud to go and campaign for him.”I’ve worked with him over many years, even my last job at Work and Pensions, where we worked really closely on the youth guarantee to make sure every young person is earning or learning. Today’s announcement will give Greater Manchester that, and funding to back local innovation through its universities and businesses, too.”He’s been a long-standing champion of that, and I absolutely back him in that agenda.”
Liverpool will be central to ‘tomorrow’s world’ as minister backs Burnham
