UK Innovation Districts Group (UK IDG) has launched the Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator Programme to empower place leaders nationwide.
Registration is open now for Cohort One, taking place from February to August 2027. Learn more and Register here.
This pioneering Accelerator is designed to help local authorities, university leaders, regional development agencies, and innovation district teams unlock the full economic potential of their local innovation ecosystems.
The seven-month programme addresses a critical gap in regional economic development: turning isolated assets, research institutions, and innovation hubs into cohesive, high-performing ecosystems. Ecosystems that attract investment, foster entrepreneurship, and drive inclusive growth.
Despite significant capital investments across UK towns and cities and a growing evidence base demonstrating economic and community impact, many regions are still struggling to achieve long-term momentum from their innovation ecosystems, often due to fragmented governance, mismatched stakeholder priorities, and lack of operational capacity.
The Innovation Ecosystem Accelerator offers a structured programme of activity, a peer group and a pathway, designed by experienced practitioners, and tailored to the specific circumstances of a place, its people and operational systems.
Over seven months, participants will work through practical modules covering governance alignment, ecosystem capital strategies, anchor-institution activation, and sustainable value creation. Lifting concepts from regional collaboration agreements into impactful delivery, the accelerator ensures participating leadership teams emerge with a stress-tested, actionable place-based plan for their innovation ecosystem.
The Accelerator is a UK Innovation Districts Group programme, delivered by Recurve and Fern Consulting.
Emma Frost, Chair, UK Innovation Districts Group and Director, Fern Consulting Ltd, said: “Building a thriving innovation ecosystem isn’t about having more buildings, strategies or sector labels – it’s about turning local assets, relationships and leadership into a system that creates real opportunity.
“The Accelerator gives place leaders practical tools, independent challenge and peer support to test what’s possible. It helps align partners behind a shared ambition, and move from good intentions to an investable, inclusive plan for their place.”
Sam Markey, Founder and Managing Director, Recurve.“Place-based leaders face an unprecedented challenge, balancing local socio-economic priorities with global competitiveness.”
“Through the accelerator, and our free interactive diagnostic tool, we are helping leadership teams identify their precise ecosystem gaps and turn strategic intent into tangible, fundable application.”
For those in exploration mode, there is a free online Ecosystem Diagnostic Tool to support regional teams to evaluate their strengths across key dimensions, including governance, capital flow, and ecosystem narrative. The tool provides instant benchmark insights and can be used to support accelerator applications.
Applications for Cohort One are now officially open. Place-based leaders, economic development officers, and regional partners can register their interest here: https://www.ukinnovationdistricts.co.uk/innovation-ecosystem-accelerator/