PM speech at the Innovation Nation Summit: 9 October 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the Innovation Nation Summit, framing Britain’s ambition to become the world’s leading innovation nation. He highlighted the need for a decade of purposeful direction, citing regional strengths such as advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire and fintech in Edinburgh. Burnham emphasised re-industrialisation as a core mission, aiming to distribute opportunity and investment across all UK regions through an innovation-led economy.

Burnham outlined a vision where every UK region and nation hosts a globally significant innovation cluster, each anchored by a major company. He referenced historical British breakthroughs, including nuclear fission in Manchester and the world wide web, to argue that the UK’s innovation tradition remains a foundation for future progress. The Prime Minister stressed the role of universities in driving research and startups, calling them the country’s strongest asset in achieving global leadership.

The Prime Minister underscored the government’s commitment to funding innovation, announcing over £80bn in research and innovation investment during the current spending review. He highlighted life sciences as a key focus, with the UK Biobank relocating to Manchester Science Park to advance cancer, dementia, and heart disease research. Burnham also praised the contributions of cabinet members, including the Business Secretary and AI Minister, in supporting the national innovation drive.

Burnham concluded by reaffirming the UK’s potential to lead in fields such as nuclear fusion, AI, and creative industries. He called for collective effort to translate regional strengths into global impact, positioning the UK as a re-industrialised, innovation-driven economy. The speech framed innovation as a unifying national mission, rooted in the country’s historical achievements and current institutional assets.