Innovation Network

Darren Henley CBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, addressing the Key Cities Innovation Conference at the University of Bradford, November 2024. Photo: Kiran Mehta

The Key Cities Innovation Network (KCIN) is a group of universities based in and working with Key Cities to bring forward new approaches to scalable innovation and effective place-based policy.

The network currently comprises the universities of Bath, Bradford, Coventry, East Anglia, Essex, Lancaster, Lincoln, Plymouth, Salford, South Wales, Southampton, Staffordshire and Wrexham.

KCIN engages directly with government ministers, departments and funding agencies to develop opportunities for research and innovation for the benefit of all towns and cities across the UK. The programme is structured around a Parliamentary dinner in the spring and an annual conference hosted by a member university in the autumn. Member universities also take part in policy consultations and engagement as associate members of the Key Cities APPG.

Since its establishment in 2022, KCIN has contributed to Key Cities reports on culture, skills and decarbonisation, and published a compendium of peer-reviewed innovation projects about universities partnering with local authorities to help deliver net zero targets. The 2024 annual conference – on the topic of Culture, Place and Development – took place at the University of Bradford on 27 November. The network is currently carrying out a policy review on coastal communities on behalf of Key Cities.

KCIN is a registered not-for-profit company led by a Board currently comprising:

Prof. Shirley Congdon Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford (Chair)
Prof. Jane Falkingham Vice-President of the University of Southampton
Prof. Nic Beech Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford
Joanne Dobson Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University

The Advisory Board members are:

Prof. Chris White (Chair)
The Rt Hon. Charles Clarke
Stephen Marston
Lord Raj Loomba CBE

For more information about the Innovation Network, contact secretariat@keycitiesinnovation.org.