Wolverhampton outlines research and development ambitions with investment showcase

The authority says more than 200 delegates attended the ‘It Starts in Wolverhampton’ event held at Molineux Stadium, demonstrating why there has never been a better time to invest, grow and succeed in the city.

Delegates heard how City of Wolverhampton Council in partnership with University of Wolverhampton is developing the Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) in the city, to create a world-class eco, green innovation district delivering in excess of 20,000sqm of new R&D, laboratory and commercial floorspace and 1,200 new jobs.

“The event showed the level of innovation, the groundbreaking designs, partnerships and research and development happening right here in our city," said Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills.

“It is truly remarkable and testament to the skilled people that have been attracted here and been nurtured by our businesses and organisations.

“Our ambition for the Green Innovation Corridor is for it to be a world leading research-led cluster in green technologies with a focus on green construction, green computing and green engineering. The GIC will support businesses and the wider economy in its transition to net zero and aim to create more productive, sustainable, highly skilled and innovative industry.

The early phases of the GIC programme focusing on bringing forward demand-led business space on four underutilised land parcels of land at Wolverhampton Science Park will be supported by £7million of Investment Zone funding and £20million of funding secured by the council from the Government.

As well as this capital funding, GIC and the wider city will benefit from the IZ Regional Business Support, Skills and R&D programmes and Delivery Capacity Funding programmes, being developed with local and regional partners.

This builds on pioneering facilities and businesses already in place in the city such as the National Brownfield Institute, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, including the SPARK Incubator, Composite & Additive Layer Materials Engineering Research & Innovation Centre, Centre for Green Electricals Materials Manufacturing and global companies like JLR, Collins, Moog, and leaders in 3D printing, EOS UK.

“Building on some of our local strengths, and particularly those of the university and businesses, we will make the Green Innovation Corridor a success," added Cllr Burden.

“It is also about taking the economy of Wolverhampton forward, building on the expertise, research and development and skills that Wolverhampton has to offer and deliver jobs growth, a higher wage economy, a more inclusive economy, a more sustainable economy and place, the development of brownfield sites - some that have been vacant for years- and a vibrant corridor that is well connected and renowned for its research-led clusters in engineering, computing and construction.”