Research Courses with Industry Scheme

What is the Research Courses with Industry Scheme?

The Research Courses with Industry Scheme connects academia and businesses to drive innovation, research, and real-world impact. The scheme supports the creation and delivery of new or enhanced research-focused courses designed to develop advanced skills and generate knowledge ready for commercialisation.

By collaborating directly with industry partners to identify priority research topics and co-fund opportunities, the scheme ensures that business needs shape courses and placements. This hands-on approach gives students and researchers the chance to work on projects with genuine commercial and societal value, strengthening both regional capability and long-term innovation.

West Yorkshire Investment Zone

The West Yorkshire Investment Zone is a programme of targeted support to develop the innovation infrastructure and businesses in our region. West Yorkshire is already a centre for health innovation. The Investment Zone guarantees £160 million in central government funding over 10 years to build on that strength. It will keep our research facilities at the cutting edge, create new jobs, increase our productivity as a region and attract up to a quarter of a billion pounds in private sector investment.

This programme will establish West Yorkshire as one of the UK’s most influential hubs for healthtech. Anchored by key sites in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, it brings together public, private and third-sector organisations to create jobs, boost productivity and attract significant private investment. It will attract entrepreneurs and investors to integrate talent, research and infrastructure. It will accelerate innovation and development, improve health outcomes and export our intellectual property across the globe.

Collaborating for Research and Impact

Through partnerships with the University of Bradford, University of Huddersfield, Leeds Beckett University, and the University of Leeds, organisations from both the private and public sectors can engage directly with talented postgraduate researchers (PGRs).

Businesses and organisations will have the opportunity to collaborate on postgraduate research courses—either at Masters level or a PhD - that align with their strategic needs and research interests. Research projects can also include a work placement, offering postgraduate students valuable industry experience while providing employers with fresh insights and research expertise.

These collaborations are underpinned by a strong, sector-specific engagement, communication, and knowledge exchange plan, ensuring that all activities align with regional and national priorities and deliver meaningful, real-world impact.

Who can Participate?

Private and public sector organisations that have a presence in West Yorkshire will be eligible to access the support.

What is the West Yorkshire Healthtech Investment Zone?

The West Yorkshire Healthtech Investment Zone (the Investment Zone) is a programme of targeted support that aims to develop the innovation infrastructure and businesses in our region. 

West Yorkshire is already a centre for health innovation. The Investment Zone guarantees £160 million in central government funding over 10 years to build on that strength. It will keep our research facilities at the cutting edge, create new jobs, increase our productivity as a region and attract up to a quarter of a billion pounds in private sector investment. 

This programme will establish West Yorkshire as one of the UK’s most influential hubs for healthtech. It will attract entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders. It will integrate talent, research and infrastructure. It will accelerate innovation and development, improve health outcomes and export its intellectual property across the globe.

Anchored by key sites in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, the Investment Zone aims to position West Yorkshire as a national leader in health innovation. It brings together public, private and third sector organisations to create jobs, boost productivity, and attract significant private investment.

Our Partners