University of Bath Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Phil Taylor, delivered a speech at the House of Commons last week, on Wednesday 29 October, for the GW4 Innovation Showcase and Parliamentary Reception sponsored by Claire Hazelgrove, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke and University of Bath alumna.

The event highlighted the power of collaboration across the GW4 Alliance, which includes the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, and the value of our region’s innovation ecosystem in helping deliver on UK government priorities.

Speaking on behalf of GW4, Professor Taylor, a member of the GW4 Council, sad:

As Vice-Chancellor of one of the GW4 universities, I’m enormously proud to represent a region that is both deeply rooted in its communities and ambitiously outward-looking, a region that has long understood that our greatest strength lies in collaboration. Our shared vision is simple: by combining our expertise, infrastructure, and people, we can tackle challenges that no single institution- and indeed no single region – can solve alone.

Since GW4’s creation, we’ve secured over £89million in collaborative research funding – a return on investment of 25:1 for every £1 we invest together. Together, we’ve funded over 100 GW4 research communities, built major partnerships with industry, and launched initiatives that tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society – a scale of activity that places us among the UK’s most productive regional collaborations.

These initiatives are connecting academia with business, the NHS, and local government, creating a regional innovation ecosystem that supports jobs, attracts investment, and builds resilience. As the only university research alliance that spans two countries – both England and Wales, GW4 is uniquely positioned to align UK and Welsh government priorities, offering insights that bridge policy frameworks and support national missions through regional action.

Dame Chi Onwurah, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, provided the keynote speech on how regional research collaborations can drive national innovation and enhance the UK economy. She emphasised the UK government’s commitment of £86 billion to science and technology, including £500 million for regional innovation clusters through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. She said:

It’s a pleasure to be here at the GW4 Innovation Showcase, among some of the UK’s most dynamic and collaborative research institutions. The GW4 Alliance embodies the spirit of regional excellence and cooperation that we must harness to drive the UK’s innovation future. As Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, I’ve long championed the idea that innovation should not be confined to the so-called “golden triangle” of London, Oxford, and Cambridge. The UK’s strength lies in its diversity of people, places, and perspectives. Our research and innovation ecosystem must reflect that.

I’m committed to government policy delivering on its promises, and to ensuring that regional innovation is not an afterthought, but a central pillar of our national strategy. The future of UK innovation is through regional collaboration and the GW4 Alliance is leading the way. Let’s continue to build a research landscape that reflects the full richness of our country and delivers prosperity for all.

University of Bath Showcase

University of Bath academics showcased their research and innovation with GW4 partners at the House of Commons, highlighting the collaborative approach that GW4 has taken to nurturing its research communities. This included:

  • GW4 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Alliance on Microbial Threats to National Security with Senior Lecturers from the Department of Life Sciences, Dr Neil Brown, GW4 AMR Alliance Steering Group Member; and Dr Lauren Cowley, Co-Investigator on the GW4 AMR in Conflict and Security Generator Award.

  • Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations project to redesign and retrofit houses into beyond net zero liveable homes, with Dr Robert Grover, University of Bath Co-Lead and Senior Lecturer from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

  • GW-SHIFT hydrogen supercluster project led by the University of Bath with £2.5 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to unlock the potential of the region’s hydrogen fuel ecosystem. More on GW-SHIFT.