£3.8m rural economy innovation centre set to launch in Newcastle

A new national innovation centre set to support the UK’s rural economy will launch in the North East later this year.

The National Innovation Centre for the Rural Economy (NICRE) is set to launch in Newcastle later this year.

Funded by a £3.8m grant from Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation, the NICRE will be led by specialists from the universities of Newcastle, Warwick, Gloucestershire and Royal Agriculture.

The centre, which is expected to open in September, aims to bring together UK universities and commercial enterprises in order to support the country’s rural businesses.

Accountancy and business advisory firm Baldwins Group is among the centre’s confirmed commercial partners. Gary Brockway, partner at Baldwins, explained: “Baldwins is uniquely well placed to support NICRE.

“Our focus on SME businesses, which includes many rural companies, gives us an unparalleled insight into what those companies need to thrive.

“If that understanding can be fed into how government policy supports the rural economy, then that will drive better outcomes for rural business at all levels.”

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