West Northamptonshire Council is part of a successful £20m innovation fund bid to accelerate tech growth across the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. The “Innovation Circuit” programme brings together partners including the Open University, Silverstone organisations and UKRI to expand R&D and support new commercial opportunities.
The funding, announced on 2 April, is part of the Government’s wider Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. It focuses on the central corridor, covering Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire. As a result, businesses across West Northants and the Silverstone cluster are expected to benefit from stronger support to develop and scale new technologies.
The programme builds on the region’s established strengths in motorsport, high-performance engineering and emerging space technologies. In addition, it will develop capabilities in autonomous systems and dual-use defence applications. This reflects the growing importance of the Silverstone cluster within the UK’s advanced engineering and innovation economy.
West Northamptonshire Council is working as part of a consortium led by the Open University. Partners also include Cranfield University, the University of Northampton, the Silverstone Vision Board, Silverstone Technology Cluster and neighbouring authorities. Meanwhile, all organisations will now work with UKRI to determine how the innovation fund is allocated.
The funding will support a range of activity, including collaborative R&D, skills development, integrated test environments and clearer routes to private investment. Consequently, the programme aims to strengthen links between academia and industry while accelerating the commercialisation of new ideas.
Mark Arnull, leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said the innovation fund highlights the region’s strength in advanced engineering and technology. He said West Northants already has a strong base of talent and technical expertise, particularly around Silverstone.
He added that improving commercial readiness across the corridor could unlock up to £4.5bn in annual GVA by 2035. Furthermore, he said the programme positions the region as a centre for applied innovation, helping new technologies move more quickly from development into real-world use.
The initiative is expected to support high-value jobs and attract further investment into West Northants and the wider Silverstone cluster. Therefore, partners will focus on ensuring the innovation fund delivers measurable economic impact and sustained tech growth across the region.
