Rochdale at the Heart of Greater Manchester’s Innovation Investment

Posted by on 17 Jun 2026

Rochdale will play a leading role in Greater Manchester’s innovation funding, with the borough positioned at the centre of the city region’s push to drive growth, create jobs and unlock private investment.

The funding, awarded through the Government’s flagship Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) and delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will support five major projects across Greater Manchester.

The Atom Valley Innovation District will be delivered by Rochdale Development Agency and The University of Manchester. Bringing together a consortium of leading partners from across the UK, the £16.4 million LIPF award to the University will unlock a nationally connected advanced materials and manufacturing cluster in Rochdale.

This will activate the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) within the new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), which is under construction at Kingsway Business Park and is due to be completed later this year.

The project will support businesses from across Greater Manchester and beyond to adopt advanced materials and cutting-edge and sustainable manufacturing processes at scale.

Councillor Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“This is fantastic news for Rochdale and a major step forward for our ambitions to create more high-quality jobs and opportunities for local people. By putting Rochdale at the centre of Greater Manchester’s innovation future, we are ensuring our residents can access the skills, careers and prosperity that come with these cutting-edge industries; this will make a real difference to communities across our borough.”

The new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) at Kingsway Business Park is a flagship facility currently under construction and due to complete later this year. From its Rochdale base, the SMMC will support businesses locally, across Greater Manchester and nationally to adopt cutting-edge, low-carbon manufacturing processes at scale.

Rachel Laver, Managing Director of Rochdale Development Agency, said:
“This investment builds directly on the foundations we laid through CEAMS, which was always about creating real, practical opportunities for businesses to innovate and grow. The SMMC will give companies access to world-class facilities, expertise and collaborations right here in Rochdale, helping them scale, improve productivity and lead the transition to more sustainable manufacturing. It’s a huge opportunity for businesses across the borough, Greater Manchester and beyond.”

For Rochdale, this investment reinforces its growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable innovation and highlights the success of long-term strategic work led locally by the RDA to bring world-class capability, infrastructure and opportunity into the borough.