Manufacturing R&D Catapult moves to Manchester

The UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) has taken up residence in Manchester, where it will provide support that could boost the region’s productivity by £500m per year.

The HVM Catapult is a group of innovation centres established in 2011 by the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK, to help the manufacturing sector put world-leading university research to use through investigating innovative technologies or scaling-up new products and processes.

The Catapult’s seven centres of industrial innovation supported more than 5,500 industrial partners across the UK in 2021/22. Its new office in Manchester, which will be shared with deep tech innovation organisation CPI at Bruntwood SciTech’s Circle Square district in the city centre, is expected to help Greater Manchester deliver its technology and innovation plans and bolster the local economy by up to £500 million annually.

The support available to SME manufacturers through the HVM Catapult include access to expertise, facilities, industry connections and workforce development. Bruntwood SciTech will also be providing the new office with direct introductions to fast growing start-ups and scale-ups as part of its efforts to grow the innovation community in the region.

Katherine Bennett, HVM Catapult Chief Executive, said:

“Backing manufacturing through technology innovation in Manchester is an important part of the ‘levelling up’ agenda.  Mancunians are extremely hard workers and there is so much opportunity for growth in the region. Manufacturing not only brings direct benefits to the local economy, but every 100 manufacturing jobs creates in turn an additional 90 jobs in the wider economy.

“To expand its impact across the North, CPI’s new Manchester office, alongside its office recently opened in Liverpool City Region at another of Bruntwood SciTech’s locations – Liverpool Science Park, will further connect the innovation ecosystem and boost prosperity across the North of England.  HVM Catapult and CPI hope to pave the way for R&D in the region and deliver commercial and collaborative technology innovation projects that boost sustainability, health and economic prosperity.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, added:

“This is fantastic news for Greater Manchester and especially for our manufacturing sector. The HVM Catapult is there to help businesses innovate, which will spark further investment and the support the creation of high-quality jobs.”