The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate innovation-led growth across the region, strengthening advanced manufacturing and other high-value sectors.
This is the first agreement of its kind between NPL and a combined authority and will give West Midlands businesses access to world-class scientific knowledge and cutting-edge measurement technologies.
Through the partnership, organisations of all sizes, from global manufacturers to emerging start-ups, will be able to draw on NPL’s measurement science to innovate confidently, compete globally and grow sustainably. This work directly supports the ambitions set out in the West Midlands Growth Plan, which aims to boost jobs, drive inward investment and raise living standards across the region.
The MoU outlines a wide programme of joint activities, including collaborative research and development, joint funding bids to Horizon Europe and UK Research and Innovation, and shared support for local businesses. It aligns closely with Invest 2035, the UK’s modern industrial strategy and reinforces the region’s role as a centre for next-generation manufacturing.
The collaboration will focus on key sectors and technologies that are driving the UK’s economic growth. These include health and medtech, advanced manufacturing, digital engineering, robotics and autonomous systems, defence and security, advanced connectivity technologies, and frontier technologies such as quantum, AI and data science.
Businesses will be supported through tailored schemes such as NPL’s Measurement for Business (M4B) initiative, which helps smaller firms apply measurement science to real-world challenges in product design, testing and production.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said the agreement represented a major step forward for the region’s innovation capacity. “Our region has a proud history of industrial ingenuity and a growing reputation as a hub for cutting-edge innovation – from advanced manufacturing to quantum technologies,” he said, “This partnership with NPL will help us build on that legacy and unlock new opportunities for our businesses to grow and create the high-value jobs we need.”
Dr Peter Thompson CBE, CEO of NPL, added, “We are looking forward to working with the WMCA to support innovation-led growth and help unlock the full potential of the region’s diverse and dynamic businesses. We already work with more than 60 organisations across the region, supporting priority sectors such as health and telecoms through collaborations with organisations like Xstrahl and Arden Photonics. We are also proud to play a leading role in the thriving tech and cybersecurity landscape via our operation of the UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) in Solihull.”
