Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone wins two global awards after £510m investment
The scheme brings together the Freeport and the Life Sciences Investment Zone and is expected to generate more than 16,000 jobs.
Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone has picked up two international awards after attracting £510m in committed investment. It is expected to generate more than 16,000 jobs.
It took both the Global and European Rising Stars awards at the Global Free Zones of the Year Awards 2026.
The Innovation Zone brings two schemes together: the Freeport and the Life Sciences Investment Zone. It supports innovation and strategic development sites and offers tax and customs incentives to investors and occupiers.
The programme has £185m of government funding over 10 years and is forecast to bring in more than £1.6bn of investment. Its Freeport customs sites have handled goods worth £257m.
Among the projects singled out by the combined authority are the Infection Innovation Consortium's £20m Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory and Finsa's £20m logistics headquarters in Birkenhead.
The laboratory combines robotics and AI to help researchers study infectious diseases and develop new vaccines and drugs.
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Back when we first launched our Innovation Zone, I made it clear that the benefits had to go beyond purely financial incentives. I wanted it to be a force for good – creating secure, well-paid jobs and training opportunities for local people, while attracting new investment and new opportunities to our area. We’re already seeing that ambition become a reality.
“Driving innovation is central to the economy I want to build here in the Liverpool City Region – one that builds on our existing strengths in health and life sciences and advanced manufacturing, backs the talent of our local workforce and attracts investment from around the world.
“With major investment already secured and more projects in the pipeline, our Innovation Zone is helping us create high-value jobs, unlock new opportunities and build a stronger, more productive economy for the future.”
According to the combined authority, the city region's economy has grown by 11.8% since 2017, against 8.4% for England as a whole.
The awards recognise progress in drawing investment into life sciences, advanced manufacturing and global trade.
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