A new strategic vision for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor has been launched, setting out a shared ambition supported by industry, academia, national government and local government to establish the region as one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems.
The Vision for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor outlines a long-term framework to build a globally connected innovation supercluster capable of accelerating economic growth, strengthening UK productivity and improving quality of life for communities across the region and nationwide.
A Framework for Global Leadership
At the centre of the framework is a shared ambition for the Corridor to become a top-10 global innovation cluster, supported by a mission to create a fully integrated innovation ecosystem that rapidly converts research into scalable technologies, captures greater long-term value for the UK and improves people’s lives across the region and beyond.
The strategy is underpinned by five core priorities:
- Integrating the Corridor into a single innovation ecosystem
- Positioning the Corridor as a globally connected hub of UK innovation
- Accelerating innovation adoption and diffusion across the UK
- Building a complete end-to-end innovation and value capture system
- Enhancing quality of life through inclusive growth, nature and sustainable development
Economic Targets
The framework builds greater depth and detail into the target of unlocking £78bn of cumulative GVA by 2035, announced by the Chancellor in January last year. To reach that economic target, the vision sets an objective of delivering 160,000 additional jobs and attracting £105bn of additional venture capital investment.
Broad Support from Government, Universities and Local Leaders
The vision has received input and support from local leaders through England’s Economic Heartland, alongside Lord Vallance’s Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor Unit within HM Treasury. It also draws inspiration from the work of The Wildlife Trusts and wider environmental partners, recognising that long-term prosperity and economic growth must go hand-in-hand with nature recovery, climate resilience and the creation of healthier places for communities to live and work.
“I welcome the Supercluster’s clear vision for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor as it shows the joint determination of Government and industry to build a globally competitive innovation supercluster, turning world-class research into jobs and long-term growth. We have the right economic plan. Bringing together business, universities, investors and government is a major step forward in unlocking one of the UK’s greatest economic opportunities.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
“The Oxford to Cambridge region already contains many of the ingredients found within the world’s leading innovation ecosystems: globally recognised universities, pioneering science and technology businesses, exceptional talent and strong investor interest. This framework provides a shared long-term direction for how those strengths can be connected more effectively into a truly integrated supercluster capable of competing on a global stage. Importantly, it also recognises that growth must be sustainable, inclusive and focused on improving outcomes for people and places across the region.”
Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board
Built on Rigorous Evidence
The strategic framework builds upon a substantial body of work undertaken across the Corridor over many years. It primarily takes inspiration from a Vision Report created by Oxford Brookes University and Cambridge Econometrics, and builds on economic analysis of the region’s potential by Public First, alongside the recently updated 100 Miles Wilder paper delivered by The Wildlife Trusts. Drawing from these reports and through a series of workshops and discussions across the region and with central government, this vision and strategic framework is intended to support deeper collaboration between government, industry, academia, local authorities, investors and communities.
Next Steps
This vision represents a significant step forward in aligning government, industry, academia and local leadership behind a common goal for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. The task now is to translate that shared ambition into action, with government, local leaders and the Supercluster Board working together to make the framework a reality.
For the full press release and supporting detail, visit supercluster.org.uk. You can download the report here.
