The UK’s first “advanced manufacturing innovation district” is set to be established by Sheffield and Rotherham councils.
Branded “Europe’s largest research-led advanced-manufacturing cluster”, the area will be based on the doorsteps of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in the Sheffield-Rotherham corridor.
Cabinet member for business, skills and development at Sheffield City Council, Leigh Bramall. Said: “Our Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District will be built on the burgeoning research-led advanced-manufacturing cluster at the AMP and across the Sheffield-Rotherham Economic Corridor.
“We need to accelerate the next generation of growth by ensuring that our investment in innovation continues and that the area is physically connected, transit-accessible and technically wired.”
Bramall added that the next stage in the pan would be to “progress the master-planning process”, carry out infrastructure and economic assessments, as well as, transport modelling studies.
The news was announced during in a three-day site visit by vice-president of the Brookings institution in Washington DC by Bruce Katz, who said: “This is Sheffield’s moment. You recognise the critical importance of the advanced industries and the opportunity for devolution.
“Your capability in advanced manufacturing and materials is distinctive globally, and your culture of collaboration across business, university and local government aligns well with the new network model of innovation growth.”
