Over the last 10 years, local authorities, universities and other partners in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have been working together to support the development of the area’s innovation economy.
We have made great strides, outperforming Oxfordshire in the last UK innovation survey for the proportion of businesses undertaking innovation. We now lead the UK nationally on Gross Value Added for digital industries, and provide a home to world-leading bioscience analytics companies.
We now have a once in a generation opportunity to build on this track record, play a full role in supporting the UK to generate economic growth in industries aligned to the Modern Industrial Strategy, and create good quality well-paid jobs locally.
To support this, we have launched a draft Innovation Framework, setting out the evidence base for the area, four priority clusters for development, and the role partners in education and local authorities can play in supporting their success.
Draft Innovation Framework – Consultation Draft
Draft Innovation Framework – Long Read & Full Evidence Base
Over Spring and Summer 2026, the area’s Innovation Board, sponsored by Joint Local Authority Leader’s Board, will be starting a series of conversations with local stakeholders to help move this work from analysis to action.
Please do engage with these documents. Below, you can access an online form to provide your feedback: