The power of partnerships

We cannot achieve economic growth without collaboration and partnerships.

In a world of stalled productivity and geopolitical uncertainty, one thing is certain: we cannot grow our economy alone. Collaboration isn’t just a nice to have – it Is the engine of national resilience, innovation and prosperity. It can be tempting, in periods of fiscal pressure, to scale back investment in industry, government programmes or academic research. But after more than two decades in manufacturing — from automotive and aerospace to my current role leading the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult — I know that progress only happens when we work together.

The future of the UK’s economy hinges on embracing and revitalising our once world-leading manufacturing capabilities. The UK pioneered the railway industry, built the first large-scale dam, created the first underground metro system and advanced nuclear power. None of these achievements were possible without partnerships across sectors, working together to drive success.

As the government moves to implement its industrial strategy, it is clear that cross-sector collaboration is key to delivering growth.

Government funding remains critical to enabling these partnerships. The record-breaking £13.9 billion commitment from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is a strong signal of support. It is vital that government continues to identify levers for growth and back the innovations that will power the economy, advance our journey to net zero, and build national resilience for the future.

At HVM Catapult, collaboration runs through everything we do. Our centres across the UK work closely with leading universities to maximise expertise, productivity and real-world impact. For example, through the  ‘Driving the Electric Revolution’ programme with UKRI and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), we established innovation clusters across the UK to support the transition to lower-carbon travel. Programmes like this, uniting academia, government and industry are essential to building a resilient, sustainable economy.

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) collaborated with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to design a reconfigurable factory for scalable production of both fuel cells and electrolysers. The National Composites Centre (NCC) and National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) are working together on next-generation wind turbine blades. Achievements like these are only possible through collaboration.

We also partner heavily with industry leaders. Our centre CPI worked with KnitRegen to develop its wearable stroke rehabilitation prototype through our Sonnet programme. We collaborated to transform the technology from a backpack-sized device into a lightweight wristband with a rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled battery — improving safety, portability and energy efficiency. Our centres are also proud to support Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan programme, a major step forward in improving aerospace fuel efficiency. I have spent a large part of my career in this strong and competitive industry and know its importance for the UK.

Our partnerships extend beyond industry, government and academia. We collaborate closely across the wider Innovate UK Catapult Network, pooling our expertise to maximise productivity and accelerate progress across key areas of the UK economy.

Partnerships have already driven breakthroughs across manufacturing and innovation. Now we must act decisively to build on our strengths, tackle our weaknesses and secure the UK’s position in the fiercely competitive global manufacturing landscape.

The UK has immense potential in manufacturing, but the window to reclaim our place as a global leader is narrowing. Realising that potential demands deeper collaboration, bolder ambition and a relentless focus on delivery. With the new industrial strategy, now is the time to double down on what works. Let’s scale what we have started, strengthen the partnerships that drive progress, and position the UK at the forefront of advanced manufacturing once again.