Tees Valley at the centre of multimillion-pound clean energy programme shaped by Teesside University

Teesside University is part of a major clean energy and decarbonisation programme which has been awarded a share of £500m from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF).

The Tees Valley - Hull and East Yorkshire partnership has been awarded up to £30m to accelerate clean energy innovation and industrial decarbonisation.

The programme will:

• Harness the region’s major ports, freeports and world-leading energy infrastructure
• Trial new carbon capture technologies on real industrial sites
• Support companies developing new clean energy technologies
• Help local businesses grow by improving supply chains, skills and routes to market
• Create high-skilled jobs and attract new investment into the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber

Teesside University will work alongside Tees Valley Combined Authority, Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the University of Hull to shape and deliver this programme and turn world-class research into real-world solutions.

Professor Steve Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at Teesside University, said: "Winning this UKRI Local Innovation Partnerships Fund bid is a fantastic opportunity for our region.

"Working alongside businesses, Tees Valley Combined Authority and the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, we will accelerate the development of low-carbon technologies and strengthen the supply chains that will underpin future growth.

"This collaboration brings together the expertise, ambition and commitment needed to drive real innovation and ensure our region is at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient economy."

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Our region is internationally recognised as a powerhouse of industrial innovation, and we must build on that momentum to attract new investment and create high-quality, future-ready jobs.

"This announcement represents a major opportunity to work in close partnership with Teesside University and the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. Together, we will drive ambitious economic growth and deliver transformative, long-term benefits for communities across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”

The LIPF is a national programme designed to strengthen regional economies, accelerate research commercialisation, support collaborative research and development, and unlock new opportunities for people and businesses.

It is delivered by UKRI and supports partnerships that bring together universities, businesses and civic leaders to build on local strengths.

The seven regions now confirmed as receiving support from the LIPF include:

• Tees Valley and Hull and East Yorkshire
• Tay Cities Region in Scotland
• Great South West: Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset
• Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire
• Greater Lincolnshire
• South West Wales
• East Midlands

UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “It is a tribute to the pioneering spirit in every corner of our country that we are backing regions across the UK to advance innovation in everything from defence to AI and clean energy to space tech.

“This latest funding will help take local expertise to the next level, helping to create jobs while building on our backing for local innovation in all four nations of the UK.”

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UKRI, said: “These regions have long been home to world-class ingenuity and a proud tradition of delivering real impact from great ideas.

“By bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and civic leaders, we are strengthening each region’s distinctive capabilities and championing their ambitions on the national stage.”

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