Strengthening collaboration between local government, universities, and businesses is critical for unlocking innovation, driving local and regional economic growth, and addressing the UK's persistent productivity and spatial inequality challenges. This approach, often conceptualised as the ‘triple helix' model leverages the distinct yet complementary strengths of each sector in growing economic ecosystems.
The Institute of Economic Development and AtkinsRéalis's recent report How Universities Can Help Drive Local and Regional Economies provides a detailed framework and case studies illustrating how such collaborations generate impact. Universities play valuable roles in catalysing growth across the UK including training and educating workforces and the spend of their staff and students including international students. They help create and grow businesses. Higher education institutions offer economic partnerships: research and strategy, knowledge exchange, innovation, institutional credibility, help with attracting funding, and national and international networks.
