A delegation of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners and Investment Directors from the Department for Business and Trade visited Cranfield University.
With the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor a priority in the Government’s UK Modern Industrial Strategy, and identified as having the potential to boost the UK economy by £78 billion, the group is exploring investment opportunities and innovations in science and technology in the area.
The delegation of diplomatic investment officials included senior representatives for Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan, North America, Asia and Africa as well as Directors from the Office for Investment, Department for Business and Trade and the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
At Cranfield University the group learnt about specialist areas of expertise in applied science and engineering including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy security, defence and agrifood. Representatives from local councils, the East West Railway Company, Luton Rising, the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board and the British Business Bank took part in presentations and a Q&A session.
They were able to go airside to tour Cranfield Airport - a unique facility for research and innovation in the UK – and see land identified for development.
"Cranfield University offers world-class expertise, impressive facilities and excellent networks in a strategic location at the heart of the Growth Corridor,” said Sarah Mooney, HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan and British Consul General to Dubai.
“It's been insightful to hear from industry and local government partners about the exciting projects already underway in this area. The Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor presents significant opportunities for investment that will drive economic growth across the UK."
