University of Leeds | News > University > Leeds to host major international MIT innovation programme
Leeds and the City Region has been chosen to host a prestigious international programme, in partnership with one of the world’s most famous universities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Over a hundred
leaders from government, business, universities and finance as well as
entrepreneurs from across the world will converge on Leeds to understand more
about the regions strengths and ambitions.
It will also
position Leeds and the City Region at the forefront of the Governments drive
for national growth and increased competitiveness.
The MIT innovation
programme provides expert, evidence-based guidance to support regions to
accelerate economic growth, job creation and social change.
It has helped
nations and cities such as Beijing, Tokyo and Qatar in the past, shaping their
economic and societal impact.
Leeds is
hosting the next stage in the global programme in January 2020, having
successfully bid for a place on the globally renowned two-year MIT Regional
Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP) last year.
MIT identified
this region as having significant strengths to support the UK economy.
This is
undoubtedly an important boost for the UK, to be able to showcase its
reputation for innovation and enterprise, said Professor Lisa Roberts, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leeds, who leads the Leeds team in the
programme.
MIT identified
this region as having significant strengths to support the UK economy. We know
that we can collectively create a truly remarkable environment and find new
ways to support innovation, enterprise and inclusive growth. This is our chance
for Leeds and the City Region to share our ideas and shine on an international
stage.
With three
million people, the Leeds City Region is the UKs largest economic area outside
London and generates more than 5% of the UKs economic outputs.
The MIT
programme is currently supporting the regional team to identify challenges and
barriers to progress. The January workshop will help regions develop new
strategies to implement change, to support innovation and inclusive growth.
“We are excited to bring our MIT REAP
program to the UK again, and excited to see Team Leeds showcase their region,
and indeed the wider country, to such a global audience.
MIT is delighted that its global MIT REAP program
will be hosted by Team Leeds in January 2020, said Dr Phil Budden, Senior Lecturer, at MIT Management School.
Against stiff competition within its international
MIT REAP cohort, Team Leeds made a most compelling case for hosting the next
MIT REAP workshop, drawing both on the city regions strengths and the Teams
plans for leveraging this event for building a strong innovation-driven
entrepreneurial ecosystem.
On behalf of the MIT REAP staff, faculty and Teams
from around the world, let me say that we are excited to bring our MIT REAP
program to the UK again, and excited to see Team Leeds showcase their region,
and indeed the wider country, to such a global audience.
The Leeds City
team includes leaders from the University of Leeds and Nexus, KPMG, Arup, Leeds
City Council, the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and West
Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds Academic Health Partnership, and
entrepreneurs Adam Beaumont, David Aspin and Ben Ziff.
Fiona Murray, CBE; William Porter Professor of Entrepreneurship; Associate Dean for Innovation, MIT Sloan added: MIT REAP Team Leeds made a very compelling case for
hosting the next MIT REAP international workshop in January, 2020 where they
plan to highlight some of the key initiatives supporting regional
entrepreneurship.
“They have all the right ingredients, including excitement,
commitment, and most importantly, a clear vision for building a strong
innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are excited to see the impact
that the Team will have on the region!
The
wide-ranging MIT programme will see international teams join interactive
workshops in the Universitys iconic innovation hub, Nexus, as well as
attending networking events across the city.
Martin Stow, Director of Nexus said: We
already have a strong regional ecosystem. Our participation in MIT REAP, and
the opportunity to showcase the Leeds City Region to our international
counterparts only strengthens this further; accelerating economic growth,
creating more jobs and making the region more attractive to growing businesses
and start-ups.
Minister of State for the
Northern Powerhouse, the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said:
I am proud that Leeds
City Region is following in the footsteps of global cities like Beijing, London
and Tokyo in hosting this prestigious international programme in partnership
with the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
It will draw on the
expertise and know-how of some of the worlds preeminent business leaders,
academics and government representatives to help supercharge growth, create new
jobs and further strengthen the resurgent Northern Powerhouse economy.
Leeds will welcome
international delegations to the three-day programme between 27 30 January
2020, including teams from Central Denmark, Guangzhou (China), Kentucky, Oslo
and Sydney.
Further information:
For more information contact University of Leeds press officer Prue Griffiths at 0113 343 4031 or [email protected]
For more information about the
programme, visit http://reap.mit.edu/ and details about the team can be found
here: http://reap.mit.edu/community