The University of Sheffield is partnering with a consortium of universities to deepen collaborations between Yorkshire local authorities and universities in order to address policy challenges that matter to local people and communities.
The consortium, led by the University of Leeds, to develop a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) has been awarded part of the £23 million funding from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Creating Opportunities and Improving Outcomes theme. A LPIP is designed to support local and national policymakers in tackling levelling up challenges, driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and reducing regional disparities in the UK. The Yorkshire and Humber Local Policy Innovation Partnership (Y-PIP) will draw in expertise and input from across the Yorkshire and Humber region, through the partnership of:
· Yorkshire and Humber Councils
· the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network
· Yorkshire and Humber Universities
The priority areas of focus for Y-PIP are:
· boosting local economic performance through inclusive growth
· living and working sustainably in a greener economy, including connecting ‘big picture’ climate change goals
· innovation and green technologies
· communities in their places
· data and informatics
The University of Sheffield will lead on finding practical solutions to address the slow deployment of new green technologies in the region along with working with the University of Leeds to develop the analytical capability to analyse and interrogate data which will support the work of the Y-PIP.
Co-Investigator, Professor Vania Sena from the University’s Management School. Professor Sena said:
“It is excellent that the 12 member institutions of Yorkshire Universities (YU) are further strengthening their collaboration in academic policy engagement through Y-PIP, underpinned by the strategic partnership between YU and Yorkshire and Humber Councils, which has been exemplified in recent months by the Research England-funded Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN). The new funding from UKRI will enable us to potentially expand the range of research activity co-designed and co-delivered between the region’s universities, regional policymakers, local communities and businesses in order to help drive positive, practical change within and across Yorkshire.”