Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF)

Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) is sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Supports science and technology innovation by funding local and regional groups to translate research breakthroughs into practical, job-creating solutions.

Local Innovation Partnerships Fund – UKRI Area of investment and support Area of investment and support: Local Innovation Partnerships Fund The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) is a new £500 million UKRI-led programme. It empowers innovation leadership through local ‘triple helix’ partnerships between civic institutions, business and universities, delivering impact, at scale. £500 million through two funding strands.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) The scope and what we're doing The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) aims to unlock regional economic growth. At least £30 million of funding is earmarked for the following UK regions: a corridor covering Belfast and Derry-Londonderry A competitive funding opportunity of up to £20 million per place will be available for high-potential innovation clusters not covered by an earmarked award.

LIPF invites applications from ‘triple helix’ partnerships between civic leadership institutions, businesses and universities. Through co-creation with UKRI, these organisations will identify and assemble a compelling portfolio of activities that draw upon local research and innovation strengths and support the high-potential ‘innovation clusters’ within their region, empowering innovation leadership and delivering impact, at scale.

LIPF is built on the premise that the ability to realise opportunities across places in the UK is dependent on: effective collaboration between civic institutions, businesses and universities the ability to deploy significant investment Driving regional economic growth Innovation clusters bring together these strengths and represent an integral means of driving economic growth.

They combine enterprise, research, entrepreneurship, skills and private investment. The UK has a strong foundation of innovation across sectors, but realising the full potential of its clusters requires local coordination, directing investment towards the right opportunities. This fund invites places, through their local partnerships, to put forward propositions for investment.

In turn, these will enable established clusters to do one or both of the following: scale and deepen their impact support the growth and maturing of emerging clusters which have significant potential to drive future economic value through new dynamic sectors Why we invest in this area The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund seeks to unlock regional innovation-led economic growth through investment in high-potential innovation clusters.

These are integral to the UK government’s mission to kickstart economic growth. Opportunities, support and resources available Earmarked strand : for allocated places with established governance Competed strand : a competitive strand for places outside the earmarked awards Ask a question about this area of investment For questions related to this area of investment, contact: place@ukri.

org Governance, management and panels Local Innovation Partnerships Fund assessment panel An independent expert panel will assess submitted applications to the LIPF against the published criteria. This includes submissions to both the readiness check and portfolio development stages, in both the earmarked and competed strands. The role of the panel is to provide expert assessment of the readiness and quality of proposals.

It ensures that places have the essential elements to manage and deploy LIPF funding effectively, and that proposed projects are deliverable, investable and value for public money. The membership of the panel reflects the ‘triple helix’ model central to LIPF, with representatives from civic institutions, academia and industry. This range of membership provides a diversity of perspectives and experiences.

Participation in the panel is a valued contribution to shaping the future of place-based innovation in the UK.

Steve Bagshaw, High Value Manufacturing Catapult Jonathan Beaverstock, University of Bristol Roz Bird, Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP Albert Bravo-Biosca, Nesta Joe Briscoe, Queen Mary University of London Mario Caccamo, The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) Jonathan Cooper, University of Glasgow Andrew Dakers, West London Business Jan Godsell, University of Loughborough Duncan Hamer, Welsh Government Mark Huddleston, Makers Alliance Neil Hyatt, Nuclear Waste Services Richard Jones, The University of Manchester Siobhán Jordan (Deputy Chair), Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority Oleksandr Kyriienko, University of Sheffield Jonathan Legh-Smith, UKQuantum Justin Lewis, Cardiff University Mark Logan, University of Glasgow /and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Ian Mabbett, Swansea University Jillian MacBryde, University of Strathclyde Rebecca Madgin, University of Glasgow Philip McCann (Chair), The Productivity Institute Wyn Meredith, Compound Semiconductor Centre Cari-Anne Quinn, Life Sciences Hub Wales Jason Ralph, University of Liverpool Rebecca Riley, University of Birmingham Lindsay Sharples, Health Innovation North West Coast Liz Shutt, Insights North East Katrina Thompson, Digital Catapult Vanessa Toulmin, The University of Sheffield Tim Vorley, Oxford Brookes University Last updated: 22 June 2026 This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK.

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