Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking with local authorities in Leeds to support research and development across the region.

My department is committed to unlocking innovation-led growth across UK through targeted initiatives.

UK Research and Innovation invested £236 million in West Yorkshire in 2023-24, including the University of Leeds’ £5 million “innovating medical technologies across the Yorkshire region” project. Innovate UK is partnering with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) on a Health Technologies Launchpad, funding several business-led projects in Leeds including the Hipsense project led by Eventum Orthopaedics.

We are also actively working with the region through the West Yorkshire Innovation Partnership and we have earmarked WYCA for at least £30 million from the new Local Innovation Partnership Fund.