Innovation Partnerships Fund – Applications Now Open!
Liverpool City Region has a new £30m fund to support innovation - and we want to hear how your business could benefit.
What is the Liverpool City Region Local Innovation Partnership Fund?
The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) is a new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-led programme that will invest up to £500 million into the development and scaling of high-potential innovation clusters across the UK. It is designed to support both established clusters with a proven track record of innovation, and emerging clusters that are in earlier stages of development but have significant potential to generate economic value. This initiative forms part of the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. It reinforces the commitment to foster regional strengths, accelerate research commercialisation, drive technology adoption, and help businesses scale, grow, and attract private investment.
Liverpool City Region have been identified in the earmarked strand to receive at least £30m over 5 years. The programme is governed through a Quadruple Helix model, ensuring strategic oversight and inclusive decision-making from civic institutions, universities, industry leaders, and social economy partners. The Combined Authority are now seeking project proposals to identify the strongest portfolio for submission.
Call for Innovation Projects: Help Shape LCR’s LIPF Submission
Liverpool City Region is inviting ambitious, collaborative project proposals that align with our strategic innovation priorities and support the delivery of our Local Growth Plan. We’re looking for initiatives that drive commercialisation, translational R&D, and inclusive, innovation-led growth—reinforcing LCR’s position as the UK’s innovation engine.
We’re particularly seeking projects that develop and scale innovation in the following priority sectors:
Life Sciences – with a particular emphasis on Infection Prevention & Control, advancing health resilience and translational R&D
Materials Chemistry – enabling sustainable, high-value manufacturing and biomanufacturing
AI & Emerging Technologies – harnessing supercomputing, quantum, and digital innovation for cross-sector impact
We are also looking for projects that develop scale and innovation in the following enabling theme:
Financial & Social Innovation – reimagining finance and governance to deliver inclusive, place-based growth
We welcome projects that strengthen innovation infrastructure, accelerate adoption, and foster convergence across sectors.
This is an open and inclusive call. We encourage applications from across the LCR ecosystem, including sectors not yet captured within the priority clusters, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.
This initial round will inform LCR’s submission to Wave 1 of the UKRI Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF). If needed, we may extend the EOI window or defer to Wave 2 to ensure the strongest possible portfolio.
Please note:
Not all proposals will be taken forward. Selection will be based on strategic fit, deliverability, and proposal strength.
Participation does not guarantee inclusion or future funding.
Promising but non-aligned projects may be considered for other regional or national opportunities.
All submissions will go through a three-stage appraisal process (see full guidance for details).
