UKIZUK Innovation ZonesA TAIU initiative

Compare places

Two or three clusters, read side by side across sectors, research, companies, capital, infrastructure, government designations and UKIZ relevance. There is no score and no ranking: British clusters are different from one another, not better or worse than one another.

Side by side

DimensionCornwall & PlymouthSouth WestLeeds & West YorkshireYorkshire and the HumberNewcastle & the North EastNorth East
Sectors

Space, Clean Energy, Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Supporting: Advanced Materials, AgriTech & FoodTech, Digital Technologies

Life Sciences, Digital Technologies, Financial Technology

Supporting: Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries

Clean Energy, Mobility & Transport Technology, Advanced Manufacturing

Supporting: Life Sciences, Digital Technologies, Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Research
  • University of Plymouth
  • Plymouth Marine Laboratory
  • University of Leeds
  • Newcastle University
  • Durham University
Companies

Not recorded on the map.

  • Leeds health data and digital health cluster

Not recorded on the map.

Infrastructure
  • Space and Earth observation capability, Cornwall

Aerodrome and space capability, marine research and test facilities and naval infrastructure.

Not recorded on the map.

Health data infrastructure, teaching hospitals and university research facilities.

  • Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Offshore renewable test facilities, battery production investment and university research centres.

Capital

Public programmes and a small local investor base; almost all growth capital is external.

Financial services depth locally, but early-stage health technology capital remains limited.

Infrastructure and development finance, with limited venture capital relative to industrial scale.

Government programmes

No place-based designation recorded.

No place-based designation recorded.

  • North East Investment ZoneInvestment Zones
What existsSpace launch and Earth observation capability, marine autonomy and ocean research, and a distinctive combination of coastline, test space and specialist facilities.National health data organisations, medical technology, a large financial and professional services base and a research university with data and materials strength.Offshore renewable energy testing at national scale, battery and electrification investment, ageing and life sciences research and a strong engineering base.
What's missing · UKIZ interpretationCompany density and connectivity. Excellent facilities sit a long way from capital, customers and complementary suppliers, and skilled people are hard to retain.A clear route for companies to work with health data at scale, and clinical adoption pathways that move faster than pilot projects.Supply chain retention. Britain builds offshore capacity while importing much of the equipment; local firms often serve as installers rather than manufacturers.
What could connect · UKIZ interpretationLaunch and Earth observation connected to Glasgow satellite manufacture and Harwell applications, and marine autonomy connected to Solent defence and offshore energy demand.Leeds health data capability connected to Manchester clinical research and to medical technology manufacturing, giving companies discovery, evidence and production in one region.Offshore testing capability connected to Teesside and Humber industrial land, Sheffield manufacturing research and domestic energy buyers — an energy supply chain rather than an energy market.
UKIZ relevanceThe proposed Cornwall & Devon mission treats the sea and the satellite economy as one system rather than two separate sectors.Health data at population scale is a national asset. The proposed Manchester mission and Leeds capability are complementary rather than competing.The region has the industrial land, the ports and the skills base. The proposed North East mission focuses on retaining the supply chain, not only the assembly.
Last verified15 August 202615 August 202615 August 2026

Proposed by UKIZ · independent · not a government designation