UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is inviting applications to the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) to enable regions across the UK to bid for support to grow their innovation ecosystems. The fund is designed to harness high-potential clusters to drive economic growth, deliver impact at scale and build long-lasting innovation capacity in places, ultimately supporting places to increase their competitive advantage.

Partnerships should submit project portfolios that directly support the growth of high potential clusters, shaped around clearly defined needs and opportunities. Projects must have a distinct focus on near-to-market research and innovation with strong potential for commercial application, industry adoption and scalable impact.

A broad range of research and development activities will be supported that ultimately accelerate research commercialisation, adoption of new technologies, support businesses to scale and grow and unlock private investment.

The LIPF provides funding under the following two strands:

• Earmarked strand for 10 regions across the UK, including one in each of the devolved nations, namely: Greater Manchester, Greater London, Liverpool City Region, North East England, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Cardiff Capital Region, Glasgow City Region and an innovation corridor spanning Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Up to £30 million is allocated to this strand. UKRI will fund 100% of the FEC for administrative funding to cover operating expenditure (opex) of the triple helix partnership up to £300,000.
• Competed strand for Triple Helix partnerships across the rest of the UK outside of the earmarked regions, to demonstrate their innovation potential, including those with more polycentric geographies. Any proposed partnership must operate within a defined functional economic geography and clearly evidenced cluster(s). Places in receipt of an Earmarked Award will not be eligible to apply under this strand. Up to £20 million is available through this strand. UKRI will fund 100% of the FEC for administrative funding to cover opex of the triple helix partnership up to £200,000.

For both strands, all submissions must be made on behalf of a triple helix partnership. Each proposal must demonstrate that such a partnership is in place and is capable of developing a compelling portfolio of activities that support the growth of high potential innovation clusters.