Glasgow City Region is set to receive a major economic and innovation boost, with the UK Government announcing an additional £20 million to support science, technology and research across the region—bringing total investment to £50 million.
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology has announced that Glasgow City Region will receive the additional funding through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, having previously been allocated £30m.
Glasgow City Region is made up of East Dunbartonshire Council, East Renfrewshire Council, Glasgow City Council, Inverclyde Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Renfrewshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council.
Signed in 2014, it receives funding from both the UK and Scottish Government as well as the local authorities.
It has allocated £1.13bn for improved infrastructure, with £500m from both Westminster and Holyrood and £130m from the councils.
The funding for science and technology from the UK Government now totals £50m.
UK Science and Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall said: “We want to build on Glasgow’s heritage as ‘workshop of the world’ – but looking ahead to a new era of opportunities, with companies like Gigged-AI driving the AI revolution and Chemify digitising Chemistry.
“This funding is about empowering the leaders, institutions and businesses of Glasgow City Region to choose where we invest so local expertise receives the backing it deserves.
“By backing Glasgow’s brightest minds, this city will continue to trailblaze in sectors from finance to space, which in turn will unlock the opportunities, jobs and economic growth that are our Plan for Change in action.”
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “With this extra investment we are building on Glasgow City Region’s successful UK Government funded Innovation Accelerator and further backing the area’s world-class expertise in areas like medical technology and advanced manufacturing while boosting local jobs and skills.
“The UK Government is laser-focused on driving economic growth, creating jobs and improving lives the length and breadth of Scotland. Working with partners we will deliver a decade of national renewal in our Plan for Change.”