# £1bn for innovation clusters over four years

> “The Government will also commit £1 billion through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) over the next four years to support high-growth innovation clusters in the Industrial Strategy’s priority sectors across the UK, backing the places with the research excellence, businesses and skilled workers needed to turn new ideas into successful companies.”
>
> — HM Government; Press release (No 10), 9 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Transport & economy](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/transport-and-economy)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 9 October 2026
- **Where:** Press release (No 10)
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** High-growth innovation clusters in the Industrial Strategy's priority sectors across the UK: research institutions, businesses and their workers
- **When:** Over the next four years (start not stated)
- **Paid for by:** Through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-to-hand-regions-innovation-funding-to-build-world-leading-industries (checked word for word on 10 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 10 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-ukri-innovation-clusters-2026

## Where it stands

Announced with the Prime Minister's speech on regional innovation on 9 October 2026. The release does not say which four years, or how the money is split by year or by sector. UK Research and Innovation is to run it.

## Timeline

- 9 October 2026, Promised: The government commits £1bn through UKRI over four years to high-growth innovation clusters

## About the cost

£1bn in total over four years. The release gives no start year and no split by year, so no yearly figure is shown.

## Sources

- [No 10 press release, 9 Oct 2026: Prime Minister to hand regions innovation funding to build world-leading industries](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-to-hand-regions-innovation-funding-to-build-world-leading-industries)

## Checks

- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 10 October 2026; human editor review to come.

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