Wednesday, 29 October 2025
The East Midlands is setting its sights on global leadership with a new Innovation Roadmap.
The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has today launched a report, commissioned from the University of Nottingham, identifying key areas where the region holds a competitive advantage in specific industry sectors.
The report sets out strategic innovation priorities to guide future investment decisions under the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) programme – which is backed by £160m of Government funding. The programme aims to ensure that targeted backing strengthens the region’s innovation ecosystem, improving productivity and time-to-market for new products.
It is designed to complement EMCCA’s forthcoming East Midlands Investment Zone Strategy and Investment Plan and recently launched East Midlands Growth Plan, which together will support business growth, create jobs, attract inward investment, and drive export-led growth.
The report focuses on four of the region’s high-growth clusters:
- Zero emissions propulsion
- Sustainable advanced manufacturing
- Renewable energy and green construction
- Nuclear
Several sector-specific priorities were identified revealing four common priorities across the clusters:
- Priority 1 – Facilities for Innovation – access to facilities that derisk innovation for industry including spaces for the development of prototypes for spin outs and startups and facilities for test and validation of novel technologies for larger firms.
- Priority 2 – Demonstration Programme – establish a green industry innovation accelerator programme which supports businesses in commercialising new technologies, with a particular focus on the demonstration phase of product development.
- Priority 3 – Technology Adoption – support for businesses to develop, adapt and adopt new technologies and processes, with a particular emphasis on digital and green technologies, to improve productivity.
- Priority 4 – Skills – Align regional skills programmes with emerging workforce needs in R&D and advanced manufacturing across growth sectors, ensuring these programmes are fully integrated into the EMIZ skills framework.
The report was developed through desk-based reviews and a series of workshops and consultations that engaged 170 stakeholders from industry, academia and regional networks.
The University of Nottingham led the delivery of the report, with funding from the EMIZ programme, partnering with industry specialists to develop the sector-specific roadmaps. Industry delivery partners included: Midlands Aerospace Alliance, Nuclear Collaboration Ltd (NucCol; Nuclear), Qinesis (Advanced Manufacturing) East Midlands Manufacturing Network and Ecologic Homes Consultancy Ltd (Construction). University delivery partners included University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University.
By bringing together expertise from academia and industry, strong foundations have been laid for significant progress. In the coming months, the EMIZ programme will operationalise the report through its initiatives, supporting its ambition to create 4,300 jobs and generate around £380 million in private investment over the next decade—cementing the East Midlands’ position as a leader in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.”
The East Midlands Investment Zone provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the people in our region. We are investing in the skills, innovation, and infrastructure that will create thousands of well-paid jobs and make the East Midlands a magnet for clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing. This first year of delivery has built strong foundations for the future, and we are determined to go further – attracting more private investment, supporting local businesses to grow, and ensuring every community can share in the benefits of this new era for our region. This is inclusive growth in action.
The East Midlands has a proud tradition of industry-shaping breakthroughs that dates back to innovations that launched the industrial revolution three centuries ago. Our universities and businesses are building on that tradition so that centuries from today we will be known as the cradle of the green industrial revolution. This roadmap is a blueprint for turning our research excellence into global impact, investment and opportunity.
Qinesis Ltd, delivery partner for the Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap said: “Regarding Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing - our local manufacturers have spoken and made it crystal clear what their innovation, technology and skills priorities and needs are. Unlocking this roadmap potential through this programme will be a massive boost to our region’s capability and competitiveness”
If you are interested in learning more about the future of EMIZ-backed innovation programmes, and whether you are eligible, please get in touch with Ben Sumner, Innovation Clusters Director at the University of Nottingham at: ben.sumner@nottingham.ac.uk.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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