Launch of the Freeport & Investment Zone Innovation Network (FIZIN) – expanding the scope of the Freeport Innovation Network – was a key focal point at UKREiiF.

The expanded network brings together all 25 Industrial Strategy Zones, including 12 Freeports and 13 Investment Zones, which are central to the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy to attract investment, stimulate innovation and drive regional economic growth.

Connected Places Catapult was asked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last year to expand the membership of the Freeport Innovation Network to cover Industrial Strategy Zones.

At an event hosted by JLL, the global real estate advisor, Alan Welby of Connected Places Catapult explained: “Through the Freeport & Investment Zone Innovation Network, we're going to be supporting collaboration across all 25 Industrial Strategy Zones.

“We see ourselves as helping Freeports accelerate thinking, delivery and success,” added Alan, the Catapult’s Managing Director for Built Environment & Local Growth, who welcomed stakeholders to a roundtable session discussing how best to unlock growth and investment in Industrial Strategy Zones.

“We're challenging you to do more, and to go quicker,” he told those gathered. “We want to bring partners together, listen carefully and synthesize insights; helping translate those into practical actions.

“Collectively, the 25 Industrial Strategy Zones cover over a third of the UK's land mass,” he added. “The people in this room are absolutely central to delivering growth and prosperity for the UK.

“Connected Places Catapult is here to help you do more, and move faster from strategy to implementation, translating ambitions into deliverable innovation projects for world-class impact.”

Alan Welby, Managing Director for Built Environment & Local Growth at Connected Places Catapult

Alan added that the Catapult’s national network can help to test ideas safely, learn from what's already working elsewhere, and avoid costly duplication or failed pilots. “Let's not reinvent the wheel; let's try and work through that together. We can also strengthen investment in innovation propositions, making it easier to attract private capital partners and Government backing.”

Senior stakeholders speak

Alan welcomed Will Lord, the Head of Place at the Department for Business and Trade to the stage.

“We have Freeports, and we have Investment Zones, so let's build on them; we’ve given them a real vote of confidence through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, and want to take them further.”

Will Lord, the Head of Place at the Department for Business and Trade

He invited participants in the discussion to unpick the biggest opportunities in their individual zones and the places they serve; explore the barriers they are facing, and how stakeholders can “work together to overcome them, attract big investments, and help drive UK growth”.

The event was supported by the Office for Investment, which describes Freeports and Investment Zones as formidable assets for the UK, and says they represent a huge opportunity for Government and business to work together and drive investment into communities.

Key points discussed in groups

During the roundtable discussion, it was said the UK does not lack innovation assets or investor interest, but struggles to translate these into scalable, commercially viable projects.

Issues include fragmented governance, rigid funding structures, infrastructure bottlenecks – particularly around energy – and a lack of clarity in the national investment offer.

It was also said that Industrial Strategy Zones need to articulate an investor-facing ‘product’. Connected Places Catapult is working with Government to translate this into a reality.

Participants were asked to focus on two broad areas: policy or funding change that would most enable innovation to scale, and changes that would most likely improve the ability to attract and accelerate investment.

It was said that the UK performs strongly in early-stage innovation, but struggles to retain and scale businesses.

It was also said that funding and governance frameworks do not always align with commercial realities; and investment decisions are driven primarily by infrastructure readiness.

Policy recommendations that stakeholders asked to be taken forward include the introduction of flexible funding frameworks, to align infrastructure investment with Industrial Strategy priorities.

Connected Places Catapult – through the Freeport & Investment Zone Innovation Network – is encouraged to translate findings into a structured engagement with UK Government, and establish a formal ‘bottom-up intelligence’ mechanism.

“Connected Places Catapult will work with Government to dismantle barriers identified for Industrial Strategy Zones in order for them to deliver for the communities they serve. Freeports and Investment Zones are a hugely significant lever for innovation, investment and growth, and it is fantastic to see the collaborative and collegiate attitudes and actions being taken forward.”

Philly Strahan, Senior Consultant, Connected Places Catapult