Digital Innovation to Boost Liverpool’s Economy

A new development at the University of Liverpool’s City Centre Campus is set to bring together complementary areas of research in computer science, robotics and engineering.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has agreed to provide £5 million from its Single Investment Fund for the new Digital Innovation Factory (DIF), a proposed Centre of Excellence in simulation and virtual reality that will foster collaborative R & D projects helping to grow businesses and innovation.

Involving the construction of a new 1,530 sq m facility the DIF is forecast to create approximately 400 jobs over a ten-year period, while boosting the city region economy by £44.5 million.

The University proposes to commence enabling works in November 2018 with completion of the facility scheduled for November 2020.

The approval by the authority of more than £750,000 for the construction of Project Olympus – a 105,000 square feet distribution and logistics facility on a 1.6 hectare brownfield site within the Atlantic Park Business Park in Sefton was also announced. The facility is expected to create 104 jobs and boost the economy by £39 million over a ten year period.

Professor Ken Badcock, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering at the University of Liverpool, said: “The new Digital Innovation Factory is a really exciting venture, combining our world-class strengths in computer science, robotics and engineering with state-of-the-art facilities. It will enable us to work even more closely with local industry in sectors where the city region has competitive advantage to increase the commercialisation of research and development activity.

“This is fundamental to economic prosperity and we know that this facility will have a significant positive impact on the city region.”

The Digital Innovation Factory will a key addition to the science and technology facilities in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter and an integral part of ambitious plans to deliver new workspace and lab developments as Liverpool consolidates its position as a world class innovation district.