University Enterprise Zone

University Enterprise Zones are specific geographical areas in the United Kingdom where universities engage with Local Enterprise Partnerships to provide business incubator spaces and stimulate economic growth by the application of university backed innovation.[1]

Pilot program

The ten year pilot program for University Enterprise zones was announced by David Cameron in December 2013[2] "in response to findings in the Witty Review[3] that universities could play a bigger role in enhancing economic growth".[4]

Of the nine applicants,[5] four were funded:[6]

• Sensor_City in Liverpool
• The Digital Health Enterprise Zone in the University of Bradford
• Future Space at the University of the West of England, Bristol
• Ingenuity Centre in University of Nottingham

An interim evaluation of the policy was made in 2017[7] at a cost of £45k.[8] The final evaluation is due in 2023.

Second round

In September 2019 UK Government funding was announced for 20 further UEZs:[9]

• Birmingham City University, STEAMincubator
• University of Bristol, Unit DX+
• University of Cambridge, Greater Cambridge Health Tech Connect: Testing and integrating inter-disciplinary models of incubation across West/South Cambridge
• Cranfield University, AVIATE+
• Durham University, Orbit, in NETPark
• University of Essex, Accelerating Innovation at the Knowledge Gateway
• University of Exeter
• University of Falmouth, Launchpad
• University of Hertfordshire, The Go Herts University Enterprise Zone
• Keele University, Keele University Corridor University Enterprise Zone
• Lancaster University, Secure Digitalisation University Enterprise Zone
• University of Lincoln, Business Incubation Development to support Food Enterprise Zones
• Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Brookes Artificial Intelligence & Data Analysis Incubator
• Queen Mary University of London, QMUL/Barts Life Sciences University Enterprise Zone
• Sheffield Hallam University, Wellbeing Accelerator
• University of Southampton, Future Towns Innovation Hub
• Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Advanced Materials Incubation and Accelerator Centre
• University of Sunderland
• Teesside University, Innovate Tees Valley University Enterprise Zone
• UCL, East London Inclusive Enterprise Zone

References

1. "About University Enterprise Zones (UEZs)". Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
2. UK Government (13 December 2013). "£15 million boost for local business growth at universities" (Press release). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
3. Andrew Witty (October 2013). Encouraging a British invention revolution: Sir Andrew Witty's review of universities and growth: final report and recommendations (Report).
4. "University enterprise zones pilot: evaluation". 25 March 2015. p. 14. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
5. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (18 September 2017). "University Enterprise Zone applications". Retrieved 11 March 2020. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
6. George Osborne (3 July 2014). "Chancellor builds Northern Powerhouse with new funding for science and Atlantic Gateway in Liverpool". Retrieved 9 March 2020.
7. technopolis-group (July 2018). "University Enterprise Zones pilot: interim evaluation report". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
8. "UK SBS FWRECR17073BEIS University Enterprise Zones (uEz) pilot interim evaluation". 9 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
9. Research England (20 September 2019). "Higher education labs to boost local innovators and fuel growth". Retrieved 8 March 2020.