Where do we want the North West to be in ten years’ time? Reflections from the launch of the North West Policy Partnership 2026

The North West Policy Partnership (NWPP) launched on 23 September and brings together nine universities in the north west of England. The partnership will make it easier for policymakers to access research evidence and expertise from universities across the region.

NWPP was joined at the launch by colleagues from the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST), as well as local and regional policymakers and provided a valuable opportunity for strategic engagement, knowledge exchange and discussion about how research can better support science, innovation and business policy and regional prosperity.

As governments face increasingly complex challenges, from economic growth and productivity to technological transformation and AI, these events are a vital opportunity to strengthen the connections between research, evidence and decision-making. 

We wanted to hear from our network how universities and government can work together more effectively to address regional and national priorities. Through a series of roundtable discussions, we heard more about the contribution that academic research can make to policy, and how government can better support regional collaboration. 

Discussion 1: Science, Innovation and AI at the Heart of Growth 

This roundtable explored how research, innovation, AI adoption and emerging technologies can accelerate economic growth across the North West. 

We all recognised that the region’s universities, businesses and public sector organisations represent an extraordinary strength in this area – but individual excellence isn’t enough. The roundtable highlighted the need for connected innovation ecosystems, with a clear consensus that the North West’s future depends on creating genuinely collaborative networks that can address complex challenges collectively. 

We all recognised that the region’s universities, businesses and public sector organisations represent an extraordinary strength in this area – but individual excellence isn’t enough.

Throughout the discussion, we faced a recurring question. How can government better support regional partnerships like NWPP to maximise their impact? Stronger coordination, longer-term investment and clearer mechanisms for engagement were all identified as ways to help unlock the full potential of regional research and innovation. 

Discussion 2: Strengthening policy engagement across the sector 

The roundtables also generated important discussion on policy literacy within universities. 

While many academics actively engage with policymakers, levels of understanding about policy processes, timelines and engagement mechanisms vary significantly across institutions and disciplines. Opportunities for policy engagement must be accessible to all researchers, regardless of career stage or disciplinary background. 

This is where the NWPP has a particularly important role to play. By creating shared spaces for dialogue, learning and collaboration, the partnership can help bring institutions across the region to a more consistent level of policy engagement, capability and confidence. 

Events like this launch provide more than networking opportunities. They help build understanding of how policy is shaped, identify pathways into government engagement and create connections that can translate research insights into real-world impact. 

Discussion 3: Supporting better use of evidence 

How can universities support policymakers, especially those in local authorities, to navigate an increasingly complex evidence landscape?

Public sector organisations often face significant pressures when identifying, interpreting and applying evidence to decision-making. Our participants emphasised the importance of creating clearer routes into academic expertise, and of ensuring that research evidence is both accessible and actionable. 

The conversation also highlighted opportunities to develop data and evidence as a more collaborative endeavour. Too often, organisations collect similar information independently, creating duplication and inefficiencies. By adopting more collaborative approaches to data sharing, evidence generation and knowledge exchange, partners could maximise resources while building a stronger collective understanding of regional challenges and opportunities. 

Discussion 4: The importance of authentic collaboration 

Perhaps the strongest message from the day was the need for genuine and authentic collaboration. 

The challenges facing the North West cannot be solved by individual organisations working in isolation. Instead, they require cross-disciplinary approaches that draw on diverse expertise, perspectives and capabilities from across universities, government, business and civil society. 

The challenges facing the North West cannot be solved by individual organisations working in isolation.

Participants reflected on what makes the North West distinctive: its concentration of research excellence, strong civic institutions, industrial strengths and longstanding tradition of partnership working. There was a sense that the region has a unique opportunity to position itself as a national leader in evidence-informed policymaking and innovation-led growth. 

Looking ahead

Discussions turned into a simple but powerful question: where do we want the North West to be in ten years’ time? 

Answering that question will require ambition, coordination and sustained collaboration. The launch of the NWPP represents an important step towards building the relationships, structures and shared vision needed to achieve that future. 

As the partnership develops its programme of activity, it has the potential to become a key mechanism for connecting research excellence with policy priorities, supporting government decision-making and ensuring that evidence and innovation remain at the heart of regional growth and prosperity.