Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign

Henham Strategy is working with Alex Favier and Midlands Innovation on the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands campaign, which aims to demonstrate that by leveraging their global connections and anchor institution status, Midlands universities can and should be able to drive more inward investment into their R&D and into their local and regional economies

Our work has involved: 

• A report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute examining the impact of overseas students on regional economies. Henham also ran the launch event for this report, which was attended by two ministers.
• Workshops with university officials around four of the target sectors: agritech, health and life sciences, zero carbon energy, and transport technology. These sectors were drawn from cluster mapping research conducted by a separate agency. To engage with local leaders and ensure wider buy in, we also assisted on workshops with LEPs, understanding how they saw the role of universities.
• Hosting meetings with officials from the Science and Innovation Network abroad in target markets to understand how best to tailor the collateral for markets.
• Drafting five investment brochures, covering the sectors above, as well as the creative and digital industries, to promote research and development assets to potential investors abroad. These brochures will be delivered and promoted within four target markets. 

Our work has resulted in investment brochures that include a comprehensive review of available assets across the Midlands with buy-in from a large number of stakeholders. The project received sign off from DBT and DLUHC, as well as the funders of the pilot programme.