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Collaboration lies at the heart of our city’s success
Our ecosystem brings together visionary thinkers from the public and private sectors, world-class researchers, start-ups and corporates. A forward thinking ecosystem who share a vision for inclusive and collaborative innovation, and use their knowledge and assets to improve our collective intelligence and prosperity across the city.
Innovation is ingrained in what we do – our collective efforts across the city means an ecosystem that is far advanced, open and collaborative and really delivers.
Talent is a big pull for businesses based in Leeds. Alongside major employers, and a rich tapestry of start-ups and scale-ups, we’re proud to have the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University and University of the Arts on our doorstep, boasting an annual graduate intake of 60,000 students across a variety domains and a growing number of STEM graduates.
Leeds Innovation Arc
Leeds has made its innovation vision clear – to come together with a shared commitment to achieve inclusive innovation which drives and delivers measurable impact to a healthier, greener and inclusive future. The basis for all this work centres on the newly developed Leeds Innovation Arc, located in the city centre and based around the natural anchors of the main universities, the proposed new build adult and children’s hospitals, and major private sector partners.
The Arc is home to some of the biggest public and private sector organisations in the North of England, including the future home of British Library North and the site for the ‘Innovation Village’ – set in the Leeds General Infirmary development.
It is the location of choice for innovation driven entrepreneurs with the likes of Nexus, the University of Leeds’ global
community of 130+ fast growing startups located in the heart of the Arc, alongside an established city centre community of 49,000 employees, 60,000 students and 13,000 people who currently live within the area.
Leeds Digital Festival
Leeds Digital Festival is an open, collaborative celebration of digital culture in all its forms. It’s the tech event for everyone to join in with.
The success of the festival now sees it run two events, one mini festival in April and then the main Festival in September which offers up a open-platform programme packed with excellent tech and digital events hosting by organisations across the city region.
Nexus
Nexus brings together innovative business and academic minds to drive innovation, enabling businesses from all sectors to connect with the expertise, talent and facilities at the University of Leeds. It offers a community, workspace and collaborative approach to accelerate and de-risk innovation and maximise commercial returns.
Platform
Located next to Leeds train station, Platform is a digital tech hub – home to a cluster of over 80 of the region’s most innovative and disruptive digital and tech start-ups and scale-ups. Platform offers a unique culture, with connectivity and proximity to the professional services, key ingredients for any ambitious business.
Open Innovations
Open Innovations (Formerly ODI Leeds) is a not for profit, independent, mission-led, open organisation, that works UK-wide from its base at Munro House in Leeds. Working with companies and governments to build and open up trustworthy data ecosystems, Open Innovations works to help people identify and address how open data can be used effectively in their sector to improve decision making and processes, deliver more efficient and effective services and products, and fuel economic growth and productivity
Duke Studios
A melting pot of digital and creatives make this co-working space unique. In 2019 it won the Most Inspired Spaces award at Prolific North. Duke Studios is a creator and maker space, offering a range of prototyping services which contribute to a truly collaborative culture.
Fintech North
Fintech North connects the FinTech community across the Northern Powerhouse, providing an open platform for collaboration, sharing ideas and best practice. It also profiles the latest innovative start-ups and scale-ups.
LegalTech in Leeds
An initiative bringing together the legal and tech sectors across Leeds City Region to encourage and facilitate collaboration and accelerate the digital transformation of the legal sector.
NorthInvest
A not-for-profit organisation based in Leeds that helps tech and digital start-ups across the North of England raise angel investment and access crucial expert support to help them fulfil their potential. Aligned with the strategic growth ambition of the Northern Powerhouse, NorthInvest exists to fuel the future of the North of England by facilitating investment in start-ups developing new technologies.
Leeds Academic Health Partnership (LAHP)
A collaborative partnership between three Leeds universities, our health and care organisations and the City Council, with world-class expertise close to hand. LAHP discovers solutions that unite the full research and educational expertise of our universities with the strengths of our health, care and industry partners.