The UK restores the Silicon Valley competition between Oxford and Cambridge

Digest opened free editor

Rola Khaleda, FT editor, chooses her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The UK government will focus a strategic plan to create a British competitor to Silicon Valley around Oxford and Cambridge, and it is another sign that the work focuses on the areas of high productivity of the economy in pushing it for growth.

The decision to support the Oxford-Gamperbridge Arch is a return for a politician The scheme has been well -known Three years after that, conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the priority of “raising the level” of poor areas.

The Minister of Science, Peter Kyle, said on Monday government He wanted to double the economic output of the science -rich region that extends between the most famous British universities, with the manufacturing and logistics center in Milton Keynes between them.

“The Oxford-Gamperbridge Arch is already a prosperity engine, but we can go forward. We are determined to unleashResearch and development As a driving force in our mission to develop the economy in every corner of the country. “

Tracking the quick plan to compete with science groups in Boston and San Francisco in the United States will add 78 billion pounds from GDP to the British economy by 2035, according to the research conducted by Consultance Public first to the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Council, which includes industry and leaders Universities.

This announcement, which comes before the “Growth” speech in the UK Rachel Reeves, was welcomed this week, by the deputies of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Advisors as well as the senior executives of the Astrazeneca UK Arm and ARM.

“Its members include some of the world’s largest investors, they see unusual potential, and in this commitment, it is clear that the government is doing this as well.”

The original plan was developed in 2017 by the National Infrastructure Committee and was a top priority for successive conservative governments, the last of which is Return to Saleh Under Rishi Sonak.

I promised to provide 1 million additional homes and 700,000 jobs, but met with a Fierce political reaction From local groups opposing new developments.

However, Sir Kerr Starmer, the Prime Minister, indicated that he is ready to confront such objections, and promised to build 1.5 million homes in this parliament and “put builders not beating first” in order to enhance the stagnant economy.

Mike Devi, the leader of the Cambridge City Council, welcomed the support of the bow, but warned that he would require investment in the most affordable homes, as well as improving water and transport infrastructure.

He said: “The government must learn from the mistakes committed by the conservatives of the bow – we need to bring communities with us and need to see the benefits.”

No new money was announced for the arc on Monday. But the government adhered to the October budget to present the Eastern Eastern Railways project, which will revive the “Sakwash” railway, which connects Oxford and Cambridge until it was closed in 1967.

While praising the ambition of the ministers in the arc, senior executives said that the plan would require improvements to infrastructure as well as reforms to provide planning permissions faster, and the ease of access to global workers and capital.

Oxford and Cambridge suffered a shortage of water and electricity, which led to temporary housing and science developments by environmental organizers.

Oxcam can be a large engine of growth “with correct support” but to “to cancel its entire capabilities, we need to invest, the best infrastructure, and policies that support growth.”

In a sign of development difficulties in the region, a decision on the transfer of sewage work in northern Cambridge Can delay For the second time in January, in fact, the development of 5,600 homes is frozen.

Nick Betit, a great partner in the real estate consultant Bidwales, said he was a sign of the power of interest in Owsam that global investors had been attracted to the region despite the difficulties in planning and purchases.

He added, “The truth is that the small changes in politics are all that it takes to this region to make a tremendous change in its contribution to national growth.”

The government said it is committed to investing in regional growth as part of its industrial strategy, although providing such prominent support to Oxford and Cambridge risk providing accusations that South England is preferred In paying growth.

However, Dan Thorp, CEO of the upcoming Advocacy Cambridge Group, said that the support of Oxcam “is not a zero game” and that Cambridge was working with other groups, such as the Northern Powerhouse partnership, to create “connected groups” in which growth participated.

He added: “The benefit of the big explosion can come to the task of government growth from linking what is happening in Oxcam to the rest of the United Kingdom.”