Infrastructure Systems

Cities can’t meet the challenges they face without integrating their urban systems better.

Cities are emerging markets for business. The focus for jobs in the UK is becoming more centralised in city locations. Research by the Centre for Cities found that 8 of the 10 largest cities in Britain have seen private sector jobs become more concentrated in their city centres since 1998.

Major infrastructure programmes are likely to deliver the highest growth areas for UK businesses, becoming important tradable economic clusters in many developed city economies. Some of the top tier supply-chain operators in the infrastructure provision sectors have already started to reorganise themselves so resources are able to capture the city-based opportunities. Therefore water management systems, power grids and road and rail networks need to be modernised.

Innovate UK, through their Infrastructure Systems Competition portfolio are looking to fund strategic thinking in this area. In the latest round, £15M has been set aside to deliver business growth, productivity and/or create export opportunities off the back of this funding. To see if your business strategy could qualify for innovation funding, have a look here.

Register your place at one of our briefing events to find out more.