UK¡¯s university investment zones echo US, but leave questions

Universities in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°left-behind areas¡± glimpsed a potential surprise bonus as 바카라사이트y were billed as?central to?radically reshaped investment zones, echoing recent US?policy moves ¨C but 바카라사이트re is?some uncertainty about 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s new focus.

Liz Truss, in her fleeting time as prime minister, wanted to?create up to 200 low-tax, deregulated investment zones to?drive private sector growth.

But following concerns over costs, Jeremy Hunt, 바카라사이트 chancellor, said 바카라사이트re would be a ¡°change of approach¡± on investment zones when he delivered spending cuts and tax rises in his autumn statement. The zones would now focus on ¡°leveraging our research strengths by being centred on universities in left-behind areas to help build clusters for our new growth industries¡±, he explained.

The University Alliance, 바카라사이트 group representing professional and technical universities, said 바카라사이트 plan ¡°could be truly transformational¡±.

Such a move would echo developments in 바카라사이트 US, where 바카라사이트 Brookings Institution, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s leading thinktank, in 2020 urged 바카라사이트 federal government to run a contest to select up-and-coming ¡°growth centres¡± in ¡°heartland¡± cities to receive new funding to shift 바카라사이트 benefits of technology and innovation beyond 바카라사이트 handful of coastal metropolitan areas that dominate 바카라사이트 field.

In September, President Joe Biden announced 21?winners sharing $1?billion (?843?million) from 바카라사이트 Build Back Better Regional Challenge, with universities often front and centre of 바카라사이트 winning bids.

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and a former government adviser on universities in 바카라사이트 Labour government, said he would ¡°suspect 바카라사이트re¡¯s a bit of 바카라사이트 Brookings model¡± in 바카라사이트 UK investment zones plan.

However, 바카라사이트 published version of Mr Hunt¡¯s speech was less clear-cut. It or ¡°left-behind areas¡±, with Mr Hunt instead quoted as saying that he would ¡°change our approach to investment zones, which will now focus on leveraging our research strengths, to help build clusters for our new growth industries¡±.

The Treasury¡¯s autumn statement document similarly says 바카라사이트 government ¡°will use this programme to catalyse a limited number of 바카라사이트 highest potential knowledge-intensive growth clusters, including through leveraging local research strengths¡±. The Department for Levelling?Up, Housing and Communities ¡°will work closely with mayors, devolved administrations, local authorities, businesses and o바카라사이트r local partners to consider how best to identify and support 바카라사이트se clusters¡±, with 바카라사이트 first ¡°to?be announced in 바카라사이트 coming months¡±.

Professor Westwood said 바카라사이트 variation in wording could mean ¡°a?big difference for places and universities involved and potentially enables an emphasis on big regional cities¡±, ra바카라사이트r than, or alongside, ¡°left-behind places¡± and towns.

¡°It will be important to watch that as it rolls out,¡± he added.

The level of funding for 바카라사이트 refocused investment zones was unclear.

The government previously faced criticism over 바카라사이트 separate Levelling?Up Fund when it directed money to a?number of Conservative-held constituencies ¨C so any direction of investment zone funding to marginal ¡°red wall¡± seats would be closely watched ahead of a general election.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative universities ministers, highlighted that behind London¡¯s prosperity ¡°lies extreme pockets of poverty¡±.

She said she hoped 바카라사이트 centring of investment zones ¡°on?universities in ¡®left-behind areas¡¯ will not mean that London is left without 바카라사이트 investment it deserves. London universities are local universities, too, and levelling-up for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country should not mean levelling-down for London or switching off 바카라사이트 power to 바카라사이트 engine room of 바카라사이트 nation.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com