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

DimensionLeeds & West YorkshireYorkshire and the HumberNottingham & DerbyEast Midlands
Sectors

Life Sciences, Digital Technologies, Financial Technology

Supporting: Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries

Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Mobility & Transport Technology

Supporting: Advanced Materials, Digital Technologies, AgriTech & FoodTech

Research
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Nottingham
Companies
  • Leeds health data and digital health cluster

Not recorded on the map.

Infrastructure

Not recorded on the map.

Health data infrastructure, teaching hospitals and university research facilities.

Not recorded on the map.

Propulsion and nuclear engineering facilities, rail test capability and chemistry research centres.

Capital

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

Corporate and supply chain finance; limited venture activity.

Government programmes

No place-based designation recorded.

  • East Midlands Investment ZoneInvestment Zones
  • East Midlands FreeportFreeports
What existsNational health data organisations, medical technology, a large financial and professional services base and a research university with data and materials strength.Aerospace propulsion and small modular reactor engineering, rail technology, sustainable chemistry research and one of Europe's busiest air freight hubs.
What's missing · UKIZ interpretationA clear route for companies to work with health data at scale, and clinical adoption pathways that move faster than pilot projects.Diversification of the supply chain beyond a small number of large primes, and company formation from a strong engineering research base.
What could connect · UKIZ interpretationLeeds health data capability connected to Manchester clinical research and to medical technology manufacturing, giving companies discovery, evidence and production in one region.Propulsion and nuclear engineering connected to Sheffield manufacturing research and Midlands electrification — one Midlands industrial mission rather than three sectors.
UKIZ relevanceHealth data at population scale is a national asset. The proposed Manchester mission and Leeds capability are complementary rather than competing.Propulsion and nuclear capability sit alongside the Midlands mobility mission. The proposed Midlands zone connects them.
Last verified15 August 202615 August 2026

Proposed by UKIZ · independent · not a government designation