Invest in UK University R&D, Midlands

Invest in UK University R&D, Midlands is a campaign that aims to bring overseas investment into research and innovation at universities in the Midlands, UK. It is a £3 million programme. It was launched at UKREiiF in 2024.

The campaign is led by Midlands Innovation and Midlands Enterprise Universities. Local economic growth partners and national government joined them to build it. The partners include Midlands Engine, West Midlands Growth Company and local enterprise partnerships. The campaign builds on an earlier pilot called Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment. That pilot showed the part universities can play in bringing overseas trade and investment into regional R&D.

The campaign has two aims. The first is to attract, keep and grow foreign direct investment in local and regional economies, especially in R&D. The second is to bring more of that investment into university research, innovation and knowledge exchange work.

Since launch, the campaign has shown off the region's R&D strengths through a series of outbound missions. It uses links with international alumni, industry and universities to reach investors and raise the profile of the region. It focuses on five key sectors where the Midlands is strong in research and innovation. It also set up the first University Investment Concierge Service in the UK. This service helps investors find their way and connects them with local, regional and national government bodies, research and innovation agencies and international representatives.

The campaign backs efforts by government and local growth agencies to secure major funding for regeneration projects across the region, with universities as core partners. These include sites in both the West and East Midlands Investment Zones. It also lines up with the priorities of the West and East Midlands Mayors and other local leaders.

The campaign has £1.5 million from the government's International Science Partnership Fund. More support comes from UK Research and Innovation, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the UK's Global Science and Innovation Network. That network is jointly funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Midlands Innovation brings together eight universities. The partners say they add £10 billion to the economy and support 78,000 jobs in the region. The campaign says most overseas investment in R&D has gone to London and the South East. It wants to show that other UK regions can also gain from their university research.

Services

• Investor outbound missions
• University Investment Concierge Service
• Foreign direct investment support
• Regional R&D showcasing