Liam Byrne MP, who leads the Business and Trade Committee, along with Charlie Maynard MP (Witney), John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway), Sarah Edwards MP (Tamworth) and Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge, gathered insights from experts to help shape their focus areas for 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, greeted the Committee in Cambridge and talked about recent government plans that put the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor front and center as a key area to boost the UK’s standing as a science and tech leader worldwide.
At the Ray Dolby Centre-the home of the Cavendish Laboratory-Committee members met roughly 30 top academics, business figures, and investors from various parts of the Cambridge innovation scene. The meeting was a chance for open talks on what it takes to keep the UK leading global research and business innovation.
A big part of the conversation focused on how to attract and keep top talent globally. Folks stressed how vital it is to invest in opportunities for top graduates worldwide to do Ph Ds here in the UK, backed by a visa system that’s both competitive and welcoming. Access to funding came up too; people discussed ways to help startups grow by improving access to capital and encouraging foreign investment. Infrastructure also got attention – from housing and transport right through to water and energy systems – as key elements that need strengthening so places like Cambridge can grow steadily while supporting cutting-edge industries.
Overall, there was plenty of optimism about high-growth areas such as life sciences, tech, and advanced manufacturing. The meeting also highlighted just how much Cambridge stands out globally in breakthrough fields like artificial intelligence and quantum engineering.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee said, “We had a brilliant first session in Cambridge with lots of people from across this extraordinary innovation ecosystem – they’ve got a lot of things right here, not least the Innovate Cambridge model.
“The big overriding issue that’s come out today is making sure that the UK, including through places like this, is a place where you can access world class talent – because of course it’s people that drive world-leading innovation, and create a system that drives through into creating the companies for the future that are not just scale-ups, but world-beaters.”
Jonny Davidson, Senior Business Development Manager, of Riverlane said, “I was delighted to meet with members of the Business and Trade Committee, alongside partners in the city, to hear about the success, and opportunities, here in Cambridge. We discussed how Riverlane, a global leader in quantum error correction technology, is a national success story, driving advances in quantum computing, and economic growth. For companies like Riverlane, continued investment in science and infrastructure and a financial system that rewards long-term growth will be key to helping Cambridge and the wider UK remain a world leader in advanced technologies.”
