NP11: Developing innovation clusters - a perspective from the North of England

This commission is for a research partner to undertake the research and production of a policy report for innovation cluster development.

We would expect the research to lead to policy insight addressing questions such as: • How might we join up different policy initiatives such as Investment Zones, Enterprise Zones, freeports • How we maximise the value of local interventions across boundaries • How we maximise the value of the North's leading position on devolution and harnessing public-private-academic partnerships • How areas with emerging strengths are supported to grow, aligned with a national priority of levelling up We envisage the commission outputs to comprise of: 1.

A review of existing literature on innovation clusters, focused on existing typologies for describing clusters and on policy lessons to ensure this research builds on this existing work 2.

Up to eleven short case studies in the North, chosen with NP11, designed to highlight the diversity in type of cluster and pulling out insights on how these were supported to grow 3.

A policy report drawing out lessons learnt from the case studies and making positively focused recommendations for future policy development and delivery.

We also envisage that the project will be delivered in close collaboration with NP11's Innovation Programme Lead, who will also convene a small Advisory Board consisting of Local Enterprise Partnership and other stakeholder representatives at key stages along the project plan.

Milestones for delivery will be agreed at the inception meeting.

Submissions should be sent via email FAO Jen Rae to: tenders@cheshireandwarrington.com The closing date and time for the receipt of submissions and all requested documentation relating to this stage is 1700 30th May 2023.

Late submissions will not be accepted.