Existing ecosystem · East Midlands
Nottingham & Derby Innovation Ecosystem
The East Midlands combines aerospace propulsion and nuclear engineering with rail technology and sustainable chemistry research, supported by an Investment Zone and a large freight and logistics base.
What is Nottingham & Derby good at?
- Aerospace propulsion and small modular reactors
- Rail engineering and transport technology
- Sustainable chemistry and materials
- Logistics and freight innovation
UKIZ analysis
What exists
Drawn from public sources
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 interpretation · proposal
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 interpretation · proposal
Propulsion and nuclear engineering connected to Sheffield manufacturing research and Midlands electrification — one Midlands industrial mission rather than three sectors.
The ecosystem
Universities
University of NottinghamUniversities
Research university with propulsion, sustainable chemistry and crop research.
Government programmes
East Midlands Investment ZoneInvestment Zones
Government-designated Investment Zone focused on green industries and advanced manufacturing.
East Midlands FreeportFreeports
Government-designated inland Freeport covering airport and industrial sites.
Connectivity & data
Connectivity
East Midlands Airport is a leading UK air freight hub; central motorway and rail links.
Relevant data
Government publishes East Midlands Investment Zone and Freeport designations.
Capital, infrastructure & government support
Capital
Corporate and supply chain finance; limited venture activity.
Infrastructure
Propulsion and nuclear engineering facilities, rail test capability and chemistry research centres.
Government support
East Midlands Investment Zone and Freeport designations.
What could connect elsewhere in Britain
UKIZ interpretation. Places whose capability relates to Nottingham & Derby, and why connecting them could create more value than either can create alone.
- Birmingham & the West Midlands
Both carry Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility & Transport Technology as a leading strength. Depth in the same field in two places usually means duplicated effort rather than a shared pipeline — the connection worth making is a division of labour between discovery, production and demand.
Compare Nottingham & Derby and Birmingham & the West Midlands → - Newcastle & the North East
Both carry Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Energy and Mobility & Transport Technology as a leading strength. Depth in the same field in two places usually means duplicated effort rather than a shared pipeline — the connection worth making is a division of labour between discovery, production and demand.
Compare Nottingham & Derby and Newcastle & the North East → - Sheffield & Rotherham
Both carry Advanced Manufacturing as a leading strength. Depth in the same field in two places usually means duplicated effort rather than a shared pipeline — the connection worth making is a division of labour between discovery, production and demand.
Compare Nottingham & Derby and Sheffield & Rotherham → - Teesside & the Humber
Both carry Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Energy as a leading strength. Depth in the same field in two places usually means duplicated effort rather than a shared pipeline — the connection worth making is a division of labour between discovery, production and demand.
Compare Nottingham & Derby and Teesside & the Humber →
UKIZ perspective
What this could mean for UKIZ.
Propulsion and nuclear capability sit alongside the Midlands mobility mission. The proposed Midlands zone connects them.
Related proposed UK Innovation Zones
Proposed by UKIZ · not a government designation
Sources & evidence
Sources & evidence for Nottingham & Derby
- DSIT — UK Innovation Clusters Map
- UKRI — research and innovation infrastructure
- GOV.UK — place-based programme designations
- ONS — regional and business statistics
Descriptive statements are drawn from these sources. Statements about what is missing and what could connect are UKIZ interpretation and are labelled as such. Inclusion on this map is never sold.
Last verified: 15 August 2026