Earlier this week (17 November) business leaders, community groups, education representatives and members of the public heard directly from key figures leading the discussion on the emerging Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
Speakers at the 'Oxford-Cambridge Arc: A global asset and national investment priority' event explained more on the ambition to unlock the potential of the Arc's key assets to create a world-leading innovation economy.
It follows the recent publication of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Prospectus, which aims to secure investment to support the physical, digital, financial and knowledge infrastructures across the Arc. The prospectus also outlines how the region can create employment and an inclusive, prosperous economy for all communities.
Already home to nearly four million people and two million jobs, generating over £111bn of economic output each year (pre COVID-19), forecasts show that increased productivity resulting from intensifying the Arc region's global strengths in science, technology and high value manufacturing, could double economic output to over £200bn by 2050.
Key speakers at this event included:
- Cllr Barry Wood: Chair of Arc Leadership Group and Leader of Cherwell District Council
- Sir Peter Gregson: Chair of the Arc Universities Group and Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University
- Cllr Bridget Smith: Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council
- Jeremy Long: Chair of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP)
- Bev Hindle: Executive Director of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Leadership Group
This event was the first in a new anticipated series which, in the future, will explore different aspects of the Arc’s development, including; how investment might be unlocked, promoting the Arc's world-class research, driving innovation-led growth, defining how the region can become a ‘Green Arc’ and transforming the Arc's approach to sustainable development.
WATCH: The Oxford-Cambridge Arc: A global asset and national investment priority
