Members of the Business and Trade Select Committee visited Cambridge on October 27 as part of their annual engagement programme across the UK. This year, the committee is focusing on identifying priorities to drive economic growth.
Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, was joined by Charlie Maynard MP (Witney), John Cooper MP (Dumfries and Galloway), Sarah Edwards MP (Tamworth), and Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner. The group met with experts to discuss potential areas for their work in 2026.
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, welcomed the committee. She noted recent government announcements that highlight the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor as a key area for strengthening the UK's global leadership in science and technology.
The meeting took place at the Ray Dolby Centre, home to the Cavendish Laboratory. Around 30 senior academics, business leaders, and investors from various sectors within Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem attended. The session allowed open discussion about what is needed for the UK to maintain its position in global research and enterprise.
A main topic was attracting and retaining world-class talent. Participants stressed investing in opportunities for top international graduates to pursue PhDs in the UK with support from a competitive visa system. Access to finance was also discussed, particularly how spin outs and scale-ups can benefit from better access to capital and foreign direct investment. Attendees pointed out that infrastructure—such as housing, transport, water, and energy systems—is critical for sustainable growth in regions like Cambridge.
There was optimism about high-growth sectors including life sciences, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The discussion highlighted Cambridge’s role as a leader in fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum engineering.
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP said: “We had a brilliant first session in Cambridge with lots of people from across this extraordinary innovation ecosystem - they’ve got a lot of things right here, not least the Innovate Cambridge model.
“The big overriding issue that’s come out today is making sure that the UK, including through places like this, is a place where you can access world class talent - because of course it’s people that drive world-leading innovation, and create a system that drives through into creating the companies for the future that are not just scale-ups, but world-beaters.”
Jonny Davidson, Senior Business Development Manager at Riverlane said: "I was delighted to meet with members of the Business and Trade Committee, alongside partners in the city, to hear about the success, and opportunities, here in Cambridge. We discussed how Riverlane, a global leader in quantum error correction technology, is a national success story, driving advances in quantum computing, and economic growth. For companies like Riverlane, continued investment in science and infrastructure and a financial system that rewards long-term growth will be key to helping Cambridge and the wider UK remain a world leader in advanced technologies."