Cambridge - 3 days ago

Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, and his colleagues Charlie Maynard MP (Witney), John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway), Sarah Edwards MP (Tamworth) and Cambridge MP, Daniel Zeichner, drew on expertise in the room to develop potential areas of focus for their programme of work in 2026. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, welcomed the Committee to Cambridge and reflected on the new government announcements highlighting the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor as a key focus for strengthening the UK’s global position as a leader in science and technology. Hosted at the Ray Dolby Centre, home of the Cavendish Laboratory, Committee members met with around 30 senior academics, business leaders, and investors representing a range of sectors across the Cambridge innovation ecosystem. The session provided an opportunity for open discussion about what is needed to keep the UK at the forefront of global research and enterprise. A central theme of the discussion was how to attract and retain world-class talent. Participants emphasised the importance of investing in opportunities for the best global graduates to undertake PhDs in the UK, supported by a competitive and welcoming visa system. Access to finance was another key focus, with contributors exploring how to help spin outs and scale-ups grow through improved access to capital and foreign direct investment. Attendees also underlined the critical role of infrastructure, from housing and transport to water and energy systems, in ensuring regions like Cambridge can continue to grow sustainably and support frontier industries. Overall, the session conveyed strong optimism about the opportunities presented by high-growth sectors such as life sciences, technology, and advanced manufacturing. It also highlighted Cambridge’s position as a global leader in transformative fields including artificial intelligence and quantum engineering. Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee said, “We had a brilliant first session in Cambridge with lots of people from across this extraordinary innovation ecosystem - they’ve got a lot of things right here, not least the Innovate Cambridge model. “The big overriding issue that’s come out today is making sure that the UK, including through places like this, is a place where you can access world class talent - because of course it’s people that drive world-leading innovation, and create a system that drives through into creating the companies for the future that are not just scale-ups, but world-beaters.” Jonny Davidson, Senior Business Development Manager, of Riverlane said, I was delighted to meet with members of the Business and Trade Committee, alongside partners in the city, to hear about the success, and opportunities, here in Cambridge. We discussed how Riverlane, a global leader in quantum error correction technology, is a national success story, driving advances in quantum computing, and economic growth. For companies like Riverlane, continued investment in science and infrastructure and a financial system that rewards long-term growth will be key to helping Cambridge and the wider UK remain a world leader in advanced technologies. Members of the Business and Trade Select Committee visited Cambridge on 27 October, at the start of their annual programme of engagement around the UK, which this year is focused on identifying priorities for driving economic growth. It’s people that drive world-leading innovation, and create a system that drives through into creating the companies for the future that are not just scale-ups, but world-beaters.Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP
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