Liverpool City Region and Oxford to create innovation super-power to tackle global challenges

The University of Liverpool, the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) today signed a landmark agreement, forging a powerful new partnership designed to fast-track UK innovation and address some of the world's biggest challenges. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) lays the foundations for a major new programme to help drive UK economic growth by bringing together the Liverpool City Region - with its world-leading innovation strengths and highly developed industry-academic collaborations - and Oxford - one of the world's premier academic powerhouses. 

The agreement will link breakthrough research, venture creation and scale-up capability, helping more firms to grow, commercialise and stay rooted in the UK, as well as attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). 

It will also maximise collaboration between the UK's two primary national research and innovation campuses, both operated by the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC). 

STFC Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region is home to the Hartree Centre with the UK's most powerful supercomputer dedicated to solving industrial problems, while STFC Harwell, near Oxford, is home to the Diamond Light Source - the UK's national synchrotron. 

The unique partnership underpins Mayor Steve Rotheram's ambition to more than double investment in Research and Development (R&D) by 2030 to £2bn a year, which if achieved could create an additional 40,000 jobs. 

The MoU was signed at the University of Oxford's Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities by Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool; Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram; and Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council. 

Celebrating a strong record of collaboration, leaders highlighted the national opportunity to deepen joint work on global challenges — from climate resilience to health innovation — with shared strengths in chemistry and materials science, vaccine development, infection prevention and control, neurosciences and women's health. 

The partnership will also unlock new work across the heritage, creative and social science sectors, and accelerate entrepreneurship through shared programmes, events, and student and academic-led venture creation. 

By connecting the complementary strengths of Oxfordshire and the Liverpool City Region, the agreement aims to create a seamless new inter-regional innovation ecosystem capable of attracting investment, generating high-value jobs and securing UK leadership in globally competitive industries. 

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:  “For generations, the Liverpool City Region has been an engine of change - from powering the first industrial revolution to shaping breakthroughs in modern science. That spirit of innovation hasn't gone anyway. It's alive and well here and it's central to my vision to build the stronger, fairer economy our people and businesses deserve. 

“I've set a clear ambition for the Liverpool City Region to invest 5% of our GVA into research and development by 2030 because I want the next big breakthrough, the next world-leading business, the next life-changing discovery to create jobs and opportunity right here at home. 

“This partnership with Oxford is the next step on that journey. By linking two places with world-class brands, we can back British innovation, attract investment, and make sure that great ideas don't drift overseas but are developed, scaled and rooted here in the UK. 

“This is a nationally significant collaboration that will deliver benefits far beyond Liverpool or Oxford - showing what's possible when regions come together to drive growth and innovation, strengthen our economy, and position the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future.”  

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “Anchored around two world-leading universities, the signing of this Liverpool–Oxford MoU reflects our commitment at the University of Liverpool to tackle global challenges through research, innovation and partnerships in key areas such as materials discovery, infection resilience and therapeutics innovation. 

"This strategic partnership also recognises a shared national opportunity and challenge: to ensure that high-growth UK businesses, intellectual property, talent and investment are retained, scaled and industrialised within the UK.” 

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: “This partnership signals a new era for yet deeper collaboration between our two vibrant cities. 

“By connecting the outstanding research, innovation and talent in our regions, we can support companies tackling the greatest challenges of our time to start, stay and scale-up in the UK. 

“This will unlock opportunities for current and future generations and contribute to sustainable economic growth that delivers shared prosperity for all.  I personally look forward to the journey ahead and the outcomes that this collaboration will achieve for our communities in Oxford, Liverpool and beyond.” 

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Oxfordshire and the Liverpool City Region both have remarkable strengths, but also shared challenges. 

“This exciting and ambitious agreement reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the UK's innovation economy by working in genuine partnership, learning from one another, combining our assets, and ensuring that innovation delivers real benefits for our communities. 

“By working together at scale and at pace, we can create clearer pathways for businesses to grow, scale and succeed here in the UK - enabling good growth, creating high-quality employment, and securing a more prosperous future for residents across both regions.” 

Sebastian Johnson, Director of Ecosystems at the Harwell Joint Venture and ARC Group, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Steve and the wider Liverpool delegation to Harwell on the day the new Oxford–Liverpool MoU was signed. With such strong collaboration already in place between Liverpool and STFC's Daresbury Campus, extending that partnership across Harwell's clusters and facilities creates a powerful opportunity to accelerate innovation, deepen industry engagement and drive impact for both regions.” 

Paul Vernon, Executive Director of Business and Innovation at STFC, said: “This partnership demonstrates how the UK's research and innovation strengths can unite to tackle the world's most urgent challenges. At STFC, across our national facilities, including at Harwell and Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region, we are proud to support collaborations that translate world-class science into real-world impact for our society and economy. By bringing together the talent and capabilities of Liverpool and Oxfordshire, this partnership will accelerate discovery, support industry and bring new technologies to market, strengthening the UK's position as a global leader in science and innovation."