The Cambridge × Manchester
Partnership – designed to supercharge inclusive, innovation-led growth

 A new model of collaboration  
Two powerhouse cities
Backed by government
£6m funding
 A new model of collaboration  
Two powerhouse cities
Backed by government
£6m funding

Launched in August 2025, The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership is the first cross-UK innovation partnership.

The partnership is designed to expand and strengthen innovation ecosystems in both cities, drive investment, and define a new model of collaboration for the UK. Activities will focus on maximising the impact of complementary innovation assets in both Cambridge and Manchester across a breadth of sectors, including life sciences, quantum, climate tech, defence, material science, and creative industries.

Initiatives to activate our world-leading innovation assets, accelerate inclusive growth and supercharge connectivity and collaboration between the two innovation communities include:

Ecosystem activation and integration

Ecosystem activation and integration

We will create a vibrant cross-city innovation network to strengthen connections within and between the innovation ecosystems in Cambridge and Manchester.

Growing investment

Growing investment

We will help start-ups and scale-ups to secure funding and grow, attract innovation-intensive FDI to the UK, and stimulate investment into R&D.

Test and learn

Test and learn

We will share best practice for delivering ecosystem collaboration and inclusive growth to benefit other cities, the wider higher education sector, and local and national government.

Powered by

Innovate Cambridge and Unit M.

A partnership between

The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester.

Funded by

Research England, The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester.

Supported by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Cambridge City Council, Manchester City Council and Research England.

Get in touch

News and Publications

We’re pleased to publish our initial baseline report for The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership, which has been produced by Scaleup Global.

The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership brings together two of the UK’s most powerful and complementary innovation ecosystems. Together, they bring global research excellence, deep-tech discovery, industrial capability and a culture of applied innovation that no single UK city can match.

This baseline report sets out a snapshot of current conditions. It also defines a shared measurement architecture – spanning company dynamics, research collaboration, investment flows, and system health – against which Partnership activity and outcomes can be assessed consistently over time.

This baseline draws on a combination of datasets, including Dealroom, Beauhurst, Companies House, labour market intelligence sources, and UKRI research data, each of which captures different aspects of the innovation system.

The intention of Partnership’s baseline work is to provide a framework for annual reporting, learning, and adaptive decision-making across the Partnership’s workstreams, allowing activity to be evaluated against clearly defined baselines.

This baseline report is just the start of a process – we very much welcome views and inputs on the analysis set out in the report and additional data or intelligence that could supplement it. Please provide any feedback or expression of interest to contribute to info@cambridge-manchester.com.

Download the baseline report PDF
People

Advisory Board

The partnership advisory board brings together leaders from academia, industry and policy to guide the collaboration between the two cities.

Shaun Grady (Chair) - Advisory Board Chair & Chair, AstraZeneca UK

Shaun Grady (Chair)

Advisory Board Chair & Chair, AstraZeneca UK

Anna Rule - Director of Private Markets and Real Assets, Railpen

Anna Rule

Director of Private Markets and Real Assets, Railpen

Caroline Simpson - Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Caroline Simpson

Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Geraint North - Fellow, AI & Developer Platforms, Arm

Geraint North

Fellow, AI & Developer Platforms, Arm

Prof. John Aston - Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research, University of Cambridge

Prof. John Aston

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research, University of Cambridge

Prof. John Holden - Vice-President for Civic Engagement & Innovation, University of Manchester

Prof. John Holden

Vice-President for Civic Engagement & Innovation, University of Manchester

Kathryn Chapman - Executive Director, Innovate Cambridge

Kathryn Chapman

Executive Director, Innovate Cambridge

Rob Bridge - Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

Rob Bridge

Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

Robert Pollock - Chief Executive, Cambridge City Council

Robert Pollock

Chief Executive, Cambridge City Council

Tom Stannard - Chief Executive, Manchester City Council

Tom Stannard

Chief Executive, Manchester City Council

Partnership Team

The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership initiatives are delivered by a collaborative multi-disciplinary team made up of both universities’ innovation delivery units.

Faye Holland - Director, Cambridge x Manchester Partnership

Faye Holland

Director, Cambridge x Manchester Partnership

Gemma Cranston - Deputy Director, Innovate Cambridge

Gemma Cranston

Deputy Director, Innovate Cambridge

Abigail Housley - Project Officer, Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Innovation

Abigail Housley

Project Officer, Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Innovation

Becky Gardner - Community and Ecosystems Manager, Innovate Cambridge

Becky Gardner

Community and Ecosystems Manager, Innovate Cambridge

Emma Nang Tun - Ecosystem Manager, Unit M

Emma Nang Tun

Ecosystem Manager, Unit M

Alex Roy - Innovation Director, Unit M

Alex Roy

Innovation Director, Unit M

Find out more about:

Innovate Cambridge
Unit M
Cambridge x Manchester Partnership
Events

Cambridge x Manchester Partnership events are central to the activation and integration of the innovation ecosystems in both cities.

There will be a combination of in-person, hybrid and virtual events to create a vibrant cross-city innovation network. Everyone is invited – whether you are new to either ecosystem or have been a longstanding member, we look forward to welcoming you to a Cambridge x Manchester Partnership event soon.

We are setting up the initial programme of events and will share more information as soon as it is available.

Interested in hosting an event?
Get in touch
Local activation group

We are building local activation groups in both locations, inviting people to get involved in the delivery of the partnership initiatives.

Members of these groups will collaborate with the Innovate Cambridge and Unit M teams to contribute to the strengthening of the cross-city innovation network.

For more information
Get in touch

Keep up to date with the latest Cambridge × Manchester Partnership news

General

info@cambridge-manchester.com

Events

events@cambridge-manchester.com

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