Prime Minister’s Inspiring Address at the Innovation Nation Summit on 9 October 2026

Embracing Innovation: The Path Forward for Britain

It is a privilege to return to familiar surroundings, and I must apologise for any surprise my appearance in a tie may have caused among members of the audience from Manchester.

As I begin, I want to echo sentiments I frequently expressed during my tenure in the cabinet from 2007 to 2010: Gordon is indeed correct. He has consistently been a loyal and proud member of our team, and life has taught me that his insights often ring true.

It is heartening to see familiar faces, including David Sainsbury and others. I am particularly pleased to have the Business Secretary here today, part of the Greater Manchester team that is increasingly making its mark on the national stage, alongside AI Minister Kanishka Narayan. Together, we aim to advance our shared goals.

Setting Ambitious National Goals

Gordon is right when he states that Britain has the potential to be the world’s leading innovation nation. We are already positioned as an innovation hub, but I am here today to set the national aspiration to secure our place at the forefront of global innovation.

The encouraging news is that we are well on our way. We possess numerous strengths and assets, as highlighted by Gordon, yet this moment calls for us to challenge ourselves to reach even greater heights. The country requires a renewed sense of direction and purpose, a collective hope for the future. This is what I am striving to foster, and I trust it is beginning to resonate throughout the various regions and nations of the UK.

To understand what it means to be an innovation nation, and specifically how we can achieve this distinction, we must envision globally significant clusters within every region and nation. Each of these clusters should be home to a globally significant company, as earlier described by Gordon. This will create opportunities, investment, growth, and well-distributed jobs across the UK, driving a new, intentional national effort to re-industrialise Britain in the 21st century with an emphasis on innovation and research.

The Call for Re-industrialisation

Re-industrialisation is a critical aspect of this mission—an endeavour that must resonate with all citizens, in every locality. We possess the capability to become the nation that finds the cure for cancer, makes breakthroughs in dementia research, or achieves advancements in nuclear fusion over the next decade.

To anyone who doubts our potential, I respond: we have accomplished it before, so why not again? This very city is where Ernest Rutherford first split the atom in 1917, over a century ago. Thus, it stands to reason that we can also be the place that transforms nuclear fusion into a viable commercial reality. The Dalton Nuclear Institute, located just a stone’s throw away, is a leading institution in this field.

Innovation is embedded in Britain’s heritage. Ada Lovelace envisioned the concept of a computer in the 19th century before one was ever created. Alan Turing established the blueprint for the first programmable computer, which was constructed in Manchester in 1948. Tim Berners-Lee revolutionised connectivity by putting the world on the web, and the contributions of figures like Alexander Fleming and Edward Jenner have saved millions in the realm of life sciences. Britain has always been and continues to be a nation of inventors.

Leveraging Regional Strengths for National Growth

It is essential for us to acknowledge the assets we currently possess, which are spread across every region and nation of the UK. For instance, the Liverpool city region boasts an expanding creative sector, contributing significantly to the productions you may enjoy on platforms like Netflix. South Yorkshire is home to an outstanding advanced manufacturing research centre that is boosting productivity.

In Edinburgh, one finds one of Europe’s largest fintech sectors, while Dundee proudly claims the title of Europe’s gaming capital. Glasgow serves as a global hub for photonics, Newcastle is making strides in clean energy, and Leicester is leading in space research. Somerset is poised to become the future home of the UK’s largest electric vehicle battery plant, while Warwickshire houses a global automotive engineering research and testing centre. Oxford is at the forefront of quantum research, Cambridge is home to a £100 billion chip design company, and Belfast is nurturing a leading cyber cluster, with South Wales expanding its workforce in compound semiconductors. I’d be remiss not to mention Greater Manchester, which boasts the largest AI cluster outside London and the South East.

Collaboration and University Partnerships

London, too, showcases diverse strengths—from creative industries to fintech and AI. Our capital is performing exceptionally well and has the potential to accomplish even more. Each region has world-class strengths, and it is time for them to assert their influence on the international stage as centres of innovation.

These clusters are supported by our world-renowned universities, many of which are represented here today. I want to express my gratitude for your contributions to driving the innovation economy in the UK. It cannot be overstated: without your efforts, our progress would not have been possible.

As the Mayor of Greater Manchester, I particularly acknowledge the Vice Chancellor of Manchester University, but I recognise the significant work done by universities across the country. Their presence has been instrumental in shaping our achievements over the past decade. The university assets we possess may be our strongest foundation for becoming a global leader in innovation, with 16 UK institutions featured in the top 100, all conducting world-class research and spinning out a stream of startups.

Investment in Innovation and Research

Additionally, the UK Biobank, a vital global resource, is soon completing its transition to the Manchester Science Park, marking a significant advancement for life sciences in this area. It will bring cutting-edge robotics and pioneering research on cancer, dementia, and heart disease to the forefront.

Behind these efforts, the government is committing over £80 billion to research and innovation in this spending review. However, while we possess the assets, talent, and ambition, we must confront the fact that we are not yet leveraging them to their fullest potential. This presents a collective challenge that we must address, and today marks a pivotal moment in that journey.

Creating a Unified Innovation Strategy

Being an innovation nation requires us to be mindful of our collective actions across various regions. It is through collaboration that we can achieve more than the sum of our parts. This upcoming decade must be dedicated to this vision.

We are all aware of the rapid changes occurring globally, along with the significant challenges they present, which I have experienced acutely during my first two months as Prime Minister. These challenges necessitate collaboration with our partners in Europe and beyond. We cannot rise to these challenges without fostering a collaborative spirit.

The way we will enhance the safety, health, and resilience of the people of this great nation in the 21st century depends on our ability to think and act collectively. We must establish a clear plan, a shared purpose, and a path forward that unites us, and I hope today serves as a catalyst for that.

Empowering Local Communities

As Gordon mentioned, unlocking the potential of people in all areas requires empowering them to take charge of their destinies. I have established Number 10 North specifically to decentralise power from Whitehall, aiming to create optimal conditions for innovation across all parts of the UK.

It is a pleasure to have the Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and Caroline Simpson, former Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with us today. Both recognise that empowering local communities will lead to transformative change. This empowerment will enable the public, private, and academic sectors to converge around local strengths.

My experience in Greater Manchester demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. By decentralising power and fostering collaboration among public and private entities, we can unlock immense potential.

Setting New Ambitions for Growth

When communities gain control over their futures, they can set ambitious goals. This was evident in Greater Manchester when we collaborated with Theresa May’s government on a local industrial strategy process, laying the groundwork for our current success. We identified five clusters—creative media, life sciences, digital and cyber, advanced materials and manufacturing, and clean energy—each emerging from grassroots efforts.

Growth must originate from the ground up, a concept increasingly understood in Whitehall. By weaving together diverse components—business, academia, and local government—high ambition can flourish. I am committed to seeing all regions embrace this model and move forward collectively.

I envision the establishment of a robust growth fund in every area, similar to the one initiated here. This single investment pot, drawing from public sources, can attract private capital and expedite decision-making.

Concrete Steps Towards a Collaborative Future

Today, I want to announce three specific initiatives. Firstly, we will devolve local innovation partnership funds to established mayors from 2028, marking a significant step towards granting local leaders dedicated innovation funding.

Secondly, we will enhance our existing industrial strategy by identifying clusters across the UK with the potential to become world-leading. In collaboration with UK Research and Innovation, we will commit £1 billion over the next four years to support these clusters.

Thirdly, I aspire to foster greater collaboration among clusters throughout the UK. Lou Caldwell, who chaired the business board in Greater Manchester, has already initiated a partnership