Oxford Road Corridor – Strategy launch event at RNCM © Jason Lock Photography

September News Roundup

Autumn is firmly upon us, and Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter shows no sign of slowing down. October has been defined by investment, with over £100m secured through the India trade mission, a new £10m Founders Fund for future entrepreneurs, a £16m boost for innovation facilities in Hulme, £4.5m raised by Concretene to scale up ‘Manchester graphene’, and Budget confirmation of government support for Convatec’s £500m investment, including its new Citylabs hub. Alongside that, the Prime Minister returned to the Corridor to set out a national ambition for innovation, Greater Manchester published its 2035 Innovation Plan, and our partners delivered a UK-first gene therapy milestone, a T. S. Eliot Prize shortlisting and a new ten-year plan for the RNCM.

And, last but not least, we’ve just published our new ten-year Strategy for the Oxford Road Corridor.

Here’s a look at what’s been happening over October.

Oxford Road Corridor strengthens ties with India as trade mission delivers jobs and investment

A week-long Greater Manchester trade mission to India, led by Mayor Bev Craig, has secured more than 600 new jobs and over £100m in investment. Highlights include Hexaware’s 420 jobs and a £9m Design and Innovation Centre at Sister, delivered with The University of Manchester, and Keva Fragrances’ £8m Global Creative Development Centre at Manchester Science Park. The mission also saw the University confirm plans for a major new centre in Bengaluru, while Manchester Met joined the first-ever joint Northern trade mission to India.

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University of Manchester launches £10m Founders Fund for future entrepreneurs

The University of Manchester is launching a £10m Founders Fund to provide pre-seed investment for the next generation of entrepreneurs. The fund, backed by philanthropic donations including a £1m gift from alumnus Dr Kevin Lomax, was announced as part of the University’s Innovation Festival.

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Greater Manchester launches 2035 Innovation Plan

Greater Manchester has launched its 2035 Innovation Plan, setting out ambitions to move from a leading UK innovation economy to a globally recognised innovation hub. The plan explicitly recognises the Oxford Road Corridor as a key part of the city region’s innovation infrastructure, particularly in health and advanced materials. Launched by Mayor Bev Craig and welcomed by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, it follows a series of announcements including The University of Manchester’s £10m Founders Fund and £26m for the first round of innovation projects from the Good Growth Fund.

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Budget confirms funding for Convatec’s £500m investment, including new Citylabs hub

The October Budget confirmed government grant funding to support Convatec’s £500m UK investment programme, which includes a new global R&D hub at Citylabs 4.0 on the Corridor, backed by the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund. The Budget also set out plans for an AI Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in Manchester and further fiscal devolution for the city region.

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Corridor welcomes PM Andy Burnham back as Innovation Nation Summit comes to Manchester

Prime Minister Andy Burnham returned to home turf on 9 October to deliver a speech at the Innovation Nation Summit. Setting out the national goal of becoming the world’s leading innovation nation, he announced the devolution of local innovation partnership funds to established mayors from 2028, and a £1bn commitment through UKRI over four years to back world-leading clusters. He also highlighted life sciences on Oxford Road and confirmed that the UK Biobank will soon complete its move to Manchester Science Park, describing it as “a true global resource” that will take life sciences in the region “a major step forward.”

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Business Secretary visits Sister to see Manchester’s innovation partnership in action

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP and Small Business Minister Lord Leong visited Sister, The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation district, meeting businesses collaborating and growing in the ecosystem. The visit highlighted the partnership between academia, industry and government in driving innovation-led growth.

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Concretene secures £4.5m Series A to scale ‘Manchester graphene’

University of Manchester spin-out Concretene has raised £4.5m to scale up production of ‘Manchester graphene’, a material it uses to make lower-carbon concrete. The graphene is produced from local wastewater biogas. The round includes £2m from NPIF II alongside existing backers LocalGlobe and Molten Ventures. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the funding during a visit to Concretene’s facility in Sister, where he tried his hand at filling concrete moulds.

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Manchester Met allocated £16m Good Growth Fund investment for manufacturing and creative innovation facility

Manchester Met has been allocated £16 million from the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund to establish FUSE-M, a 1,600 sq m business-facing innovation facility in Hulme. Bringing together expertise from PrintCity, D-MACH, SODA and the Centre for Enterprise, FUSE-M will give companies access to advanced simulation, digital modelling, immersive technologies and prototyping capabilities.

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University of Manchester start-up LanthaGen Bio wins £100,000 Coller AI Competition

LanthaGen Bio, a University of Manchester start-up developing AI-powered technology to recover valuable metals, has won the inaugural Coller AI Competition, securing a £100,000 equity investment and a partnership with the Jeremy Coller Foundation. The win followed a final pitch that capped off a packed Innovation Week.

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Manchester Met recognised for support for businesses, start-ups and IP commercialisation

Manchester Metropolitan University’s success in working with business, commercialisation and graduate start-ups has been highlighted in Research England’s latest Knowledge Exchange Framework survey. Manchester Met ranked in the top five nationally for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and for CPD and graduate start-ups, supporting around 130 new ventures each year. It also improved to quintile four for intellectual property and commercialisation.

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Venture Café Manchester celebrates one year of connecting the city’s innovators

Venture Café Manchester has marked its first anniversary in style, welcoming 200 guests to celebrate a year that delivered 33 Thursday Gatherings, 3,500 attendees and over 70 innovators showcased. The milestone event featured a fireside chat with Kathleen Fisher, CEO of ARIA, alongside Aline Miller of Unit M, exploring what it takes to create the right conditions for ambitious innovation to thrive. Rooted in the belief that “isolation is the enemy of innovation”, Venture Café brings researchers, founders and creators together every Thursday at Sister – working alongside its counterparts in London, Edinburgh and Cambridge to showcase the breadth of UK innovation. A welcome addition to the Corridor, and one that is clearly making things happen.

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How OpalMedica leveraged Manchester’s innovation ecosystem to scale HealthTech

OpalMedica, founded by Sara Elgott, is developing technology to support earlier identification of rare and underdiagnosed conditions through its GP Clinical Flags platform. Based at Bruntwood SciTech’s Circle Square, the company joined the Female Founders Incubator and has since benefited from connections across Manchester’s health innovation ecosystem.

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Glenbrook’s 44-storey Manchester tower clears Gateway 2

Glenbrook has secured Gateway 2 approval for its 44-storey Sheppard Robson-designed tower on Whitworth Street West, with Domis lined up to build and M&G confirmed as forward funder. The 364-home scheme, supported by £17m of patient equity from the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund, is now ready to start on site in 2027.

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University of Manchester remains in UK top ten in Times Higher Education World University Rankings

The University of Manchester has retained its place among the UK’s top ten universities in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The result reflects the University’s continued strength in teaching, research and international collaboration.

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University of Manchester selected to join prestigious European AI alliance as second UK node

The University of Manchester has been selected to establish a new ELIAS Node, becoming only the second UK institution to join the European AI innovation network, alongside Cambridge. The appointment recognises the University’s strengths in AI research and innovation.

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Prestigious sport and exercise science fellowship awarded to Manchester Met

A prestigious fellowship in sport and exercise science has been awarded to Dr Georgina Stebbings, Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Reader at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport. Dr Stebbings was recognised for her expertise, leadership and sustained contribution to the profession.

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Manchester Met signs MoU with GMCA to shape the future of youth justice

Manchester Met has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, formally recognising its Centre for Crime and Youth Justice Research as a strategic partner supporting the Greater Manchester Youth Justice Framework 2025-2029. Building on more than a decade of collaboration, the partnership will cover further child-centred research and evaluation, major funding bids, doctoral studentships, professional training and student internships.

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Manchester Met research supports future UK metamaterials innovation

A new national roadmap has set out how the UK can strengthen its position in metamaterials research, innovation and commercialisation. Manchester Met plays a key role in the UK Metamaterials Network, with Dr Tom Allen leading research into healthcare applications.

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First patient in the UK to receive gene-editing therapy for sickle cell completes treatment

Aisha, 15, from Cheadle, has become the first patient in the UK to complete Casgevy gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Having endured severe crises and hospital visits as often as every two weeks, she rang the bell to mark the end of treatment and is now back at school as a prefect, free of symptoms and crises. Her mother Hamdat, who also has sickle cell, said she was “so proud” of her daughter.

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New national network to advance safer, longer-lasting medical materials technologies

A new UK-wide network led by Manchester Metropolitan University will address some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare technology, aiming to transform how medical technologies are designed, tested and regulated. The Healthcare Interfaces Network+ (HCI+) brings together researchers, clinicians, industry and patient groups, and is backed by £1.1m from UK Research and Innovation’s National Materials Innovation Programme. The network could lead to safer, longer-lasting implants, more reliable sensors and infection-resistant devices.

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Scientists explore new early detection tool for breast cancer in new mothers

A pioneering study led by University of Manchester scientists is investigating whether a novel approach could detect breast cancer earlier than a blood test or scan, particularly in cancers that develop during or after pregnancy. Funded by The Christie Charity, the BRACELET-BM study has begun recruiting at the Nightingale Centre in Wythenshawe and aims to build a Manchester Breast Biofluid Biobank with more than 200 samples for future research.

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Stroke sensor gives doctors a window into the brain

A breakthrough graphene-based brain sensor developed with University of Manchester researchers could allow doctors to watch hidden damage unfolding during a stroke in real time. Published in Brain, the study recorded cortical spreading depolarizations in unprecedented detail, revealing signals that act as a fingerprint for tissue health and could help identify which areas of the brain can still be saved.

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ground-breaking research study to help identify and treat rare genetic conditions in newborn babies

The Generation Study, led by Genomics England in partnership with NHS England, has recruited its 5,000th baby at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The study offers whole genome sequencing for newborn babies to identify more than 200 rare genetic conditions that can be treated early in life, and is aiming to recruit 100,000 families nationwide.

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Manchester Arena attack survivors: pioneering rehabilitation programme gives hope for remarkable recoveries

A University of Manchester-led study has found that survivors of major trauma can achieve remarkable recovery when given the right support, examining the Enhanced Rehabilitation Programme developed in response to the Manchester Arena bombing. Published in the journal Physiotherapy, the research found participants experienced substantial improvements in physical recovery, confidence, mental wellbeing and quality of life, with many returning to work and rebuilding their independence.

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Manchester Child Health Research Institute sets out vision for the future of child health research

The newly established Manchester Child Health Research Institute held its first engagement event at the Whitworth, bringing together leading researchers, clinicians and young people to discuss the future of child health research in Greater Manchester. The Institute aims to become the UK’s leading place-based child health research institute by 2036, connecting expertise currently held in disconnected pockets and addressing the health inequalities affecting children across the North West.

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MFT researcher awarded UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship

Dr Lukas Hughes-Noehrer, Lead for Computational Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship providing £2.4m over four years to establish the Manchester Digital Health Living Lab. The programme will explore how wearable technologies can improve patient care, taking research directly into patients’ homes and investigating their use in cancer care, with a focus on accessibility, trust and digital inclusion.

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Nazir Afzal OBE appointed as new Chair of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Nazir Afzal OBE has been appointed Chair of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, taking up the role on 4 January 2027. A former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and current Chancellor of The University of Manchester, he brings more than 30 years of public service experience across justice, safeguarding and governance. He said he intended to “listen, to challenge when necessary and, above all, to keep patients and communities at the heart of what we do.”

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Manchester Met poet shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize

Dr Kim Moore, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Manchester Met, has been shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize for her collection ‘The House of Broken Things’, which explores motherhood with honesty and tenderness. She joins a shortlist including Pulitzer Prize winner Jorie Graham and former poet laureate Andrew Motion, with the winner announced in January 2027.

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RNCM launches 10-year plan to power the music of tomorrow

The RNCM has launched its new strategic plan, ‘Powering the Music of Tomorrow 2026-2036’, built around four goals: global leadership in music education, driving change across the creative industries, deepening its role as an anchor institution for Manchester and the North, and remaining sustainable and rich in opportunity. The launch included four new initiatives: RNCM Teach, RNCM Futures+, the Institute for Research in Music, Place and Society, and RNCM Renew.

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RNCM reveals first artists on joint Creative Incubator with English National Opera

The RNCM and English National Opera have announced the inaugural artists on their new Creative Incubator programme: screenwriter Stefanie Reynolds, composer Thandanani Gumeda and inclusive dance artist Matthew Rawcliffe. The year-long programme offers workshop and rehearsal space, mentoring, financial support and collaborative opportunities, championing new voices and underrepresented artists in opera-making.

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SuAndi OBE opens annual performance lecture series celebrating powerful Global Majority women

Manchester Met honorary Doctor of Arts SuAndi OBE delivered the inaugural Sarah Parker Remond Lecture at Grosvenor East, performing ‘Sarah’s Sistahs’ in reflection on the pioneering Black activist’s 1859 Manchester address. The annual lecture series celebrates Global Majority women whose creativity, activism and resistance have shaped the city.

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Students explore the Corridor’s cultural scene during The Cultural Welcome

The Cultural Welcome returned from 5–11 October, inviting students to explore the arts, culture and heritage of the Oxford Road Corridor beyond campus. A packed week of free and low-cost events spanned galleries, museums, theatres and music venues.

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Centre stage for alumni in adidas Originals showcase

Ten Manchester Met graduates are among the emerging creatives behind ‘Common Frequency’, an immersive exhibition at Aviva Studios curated by the adidas Originals Creator Network North cohort. The exhibition, exploring the transformative power of music, follows six months of development with industry professionals from Factory International and adidas Originals.

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New £1 million lab will ‘digitally unlock’ hidden secrets inside historic objects

A new £1 million digital heritage facility at Manchester Met will help museums uncover hidden histories in their collections. The Centre for Digital Modelling and Analysis for Cultural Heritage (DMACH) brings together advanced imaging, scanning and analytical technologies, including micro-CT scanning that can look inside sealed objects without opening them.

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Manchester Museum to transform interpretation of archaeology collections with support from Getty’s new Interpretations initiative

Manchester Museum is set to transform how its archaeology collections are interpreted, with support from the Getty’s new Interpretations initiative. The project will explore new approaches to presenting archaeological material, making collections more accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.

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Manchester Museum to introduce innovative new SEND approach

Manchester Museum is aiming to embed a new approach to special educational needs and disabilities provision throughout its work, after becoming a recipient of the Museums Association Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund 2026. Central to this will be the appointment of a SEND Coordinator, a first for the Museum, co-developing activity with SEND audiences, families and partners. The announcement comes ahead of the Museum’s ten-year strategic plan.

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Manchester Museum and Science Gallery Bengaluru launch new partnership

Also part of Greater Manchester’s growing ties with India, Manchester Museum and Science Gallery Bengaluru have agreed a partnership designed to tackle shared challenges facing both cities. The collaboration will bring together expertise from Manchester and Bengaluru across culture, science and innovation.

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Manchester Met and Versa Studios join forces to shape future screen

Manchester Met and Versa Studios have joined forces to help shape the future of the screen industry, creating opportunities for students and supporting the region’s growing film and TV sector.

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And finally… we’ve launched a new ten-year Strategy for Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter

This month we launched the Oxford Road Corridor Strategy 2026–2036, setting out the next phase of growth of Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter. Independent assessment suggests the development pipeline could support around 15,800 additional jobs and £1.9 billion in annual GVA by 2036. The strategy’s vision is to drive an internationally renowned, inclusive and sustainable place where knowledge, business and culture transform lives

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