External
Turning innovation ambition into economic growth in places across the UK
Metro Dynamics · July 2026
Download PDF metrodynamics.co.uk
A new report from Metro Dynamics draws together the insights of 90 leaders on what it will take to build, scale and sustain successful innovation ecosystems across the UK. The report brings together the insights of around 90 leaders who joined three connected roundtables hosted by Metro Dynamics and Emma Lindsell at the inaugural UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit in June.
At the beginning of September, the Invest in UK University R&D Campaign held a workshop with Barclays, UK Private Capital, Universities UK and Midlands Innovation developed on the back of the inaugral UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit, held in June alongside London Tech Week. The workshop focused on ‘how to unlock £100bn investment in university-linked innovation and spin-outs by 2035’.
As part of this workshop, the room generated a series of practical recommendations and policy suggestions for the university sector, regional bodies and for the UK government. We have synthesised the outputs of this workshop into 8 per topic and workshop participants, as well as our wider R&D and innovation the community can up-vote and comment on them via our interactive dashboard.
The Invest in UK University R&D Campaign led the Commission on Devolution and Diplomacy to examine how England’s regions and cities engage internationally, and how that activity could deliver more for local economies. The work was led by City-REDI at the University of Birmingham and found that since 2010, international activity below national level in England has become fragmented and uneven. A few places run well-resourced operations, while many others work reactively without the data, governance or capacity to turn global ambition into investment, trade and research partnerships.
Metro Dynamics · July 2026
Download PDF metrodynamics.co.uk