At the end of 2024, the KEE team commissioned Whitecap Consulting to assess the Northamptonshire ecosystem. The objectives of this were to:
- Create an ecosystem analysis that comprehensively explores and analyses
Northamptonshire’s innovation capabilities, resources, and potential.
- Create a set of clear, evidence-based and actionable recommendations that will feed into the future economic policy, strategy, and vision for both West and North Northamptonshire local authority areas.
- Help shape the role of the University of Northampton in supporting the delivery of the vision and associated recommendations.
On the evening of 25th June 2025, the Northamptonshire Innovation Ecosystem report will be officially launched, providing insight into how Northamptonshire measures up against the key success factors of thriving ecosystems, while also identifying growth opportunities and potential threats for businesses. The event will also see the unveiling of the Fuelling Innovation campaign - a bold partnership initiative to drive business growth, unlock new opportunities, and position Northamptonshire at the heart of the UK’s innovation economy. Details of this campaign are available here: www.northampton.ac.uk/business/fuelling-innovation
The programme will have several UON-focused and led events, including links to existing events, including Merged Futures and the Sustainability Summit.
Rooted in collaboration between academia and enterprise, this campaign marks a major milestone in our region’s commitment to economic transformation. The campaign is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and will celebrate and showcase how partnerships between universities and businesses are delivering real-world impact.
This is a pivotal moment for the University and for the wider Northamptonshire business community. We encourage staff from across the institution to attend events and to contact the KEE team if they would like to be at the launch of the event to connect with regional partners and contribute to shaping the future of innovation-led growth.
