City Guide
Newcastle

This guide is for climate and impact startups looking to expand to Newcastle upon Tyne. Urban Impact’s Future Cities Guides highlight regions where impactful tech clusters thrive, explain the city’s innovation priorities and introduce the most relevant support programs.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Located in the North East of England, Newcastle is known the world over as an industrial hub underpinned by an award-winning culture and leisure offer.

From the iconic Tyne Bridge to Newcastle United FC’s St James Park, it has one of the world’s most recognizable cityscapes among the UK’s regions. It is now centered on an emerging tech cluster home to one of the world’s first fintech companies, among other competitive strengths in tech and talent.

City Partner
NewcastleGateshead Initiative

NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is a destination and inward investment agency that delivers for Newcastle, Gateshead, and the wider region. Every single one of its projects is dedicated to making a lasting social and economic impact. As drivers and enablers of economic growth, NGI champions North East England on a world stage and maximises its impact through partnerships with over 130 private sector organisations.

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A word from the Mayor — Video

Jamie Driscoll
Mayor of the North of Tyne

What topics does this guide cover?

Governance and Innovation Policies

Uncover the path to sustainable progress with insights into Hot Innovation Topics and innovation priorities, the impact of Green Regulation, and effective Governance measures driving Newcastle’s innovation forward.
Introducing the North East
Governance
Green Regulation
Hot Innovation Topics and Innovation Priorities

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Ecosystem Overview

Discover the thriving innovation landscape of Newcastle in the North East through an Ecosystem Overview, exploring Innovation Districts and Testbeds, and meeting the key players shaping the region’s future.
Highlights
Relevant Ecosystem Players
Innovation Districts and Testbeds

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Startup Support, VC Funding and Opportunities

Navigate the resources available for startups in Newcastle with a focus on supportive Programs for aspiring entrepreneurs and insights into the Funding Landscape through local VCs.
Support for Startups (Programs)
Funding Landscape (VC’s)
Promising Startups

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Introducing the North East.

The commercial heart of the North East of England, Newcastle has access to a working-age population of 2.7 million people. Boasting strategic assets including state-of-the-art innovation district Newcastle Helix and the UK National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), Newcastle shares a regional tech ecosystem with the City of Sunderland and Middlesborough.

Consistently one of the highest performing cities in the UK for attracting foreign direct investment, with significant emerging clusters in cleantech, fintech, healthcare, energy, and sustainability, Newcastle is covered by a new £4.2B devolution deal from the UK Government to create a new North East Mayoral Combined Authority in 2024. This new regional government will focus on unlocking growth and increasing productivity through investment in transport, digital, and innovation and will include a £1.4B (£48M per annum) investment fund.

338 funding rounds

2018 to 2022 (Source: Dealroom)

447 companies VC funded

since 1990 (Source: Dealroom)

$1.2 Billion VC Investment*

2018 to 2022 (Source: Dealroom)

*Almost half of the region’s funding over that time period went to two companies: Britishvolt (Blyth) and Atom Bank (Durham)

Governance.

Newcastle upon Tyne is administered by Newcastle City Council, which forms part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority along with North Tyneside Council, and Northumberland County Council.

The local authority for the city and metropolitan borough, Newcastle City Council is currently run by Leader of the Council, Councillor Nick Kemp, and Chief Executive, Pam Smith, who have launched an ambitious strategy around inclusive economic growth.

The NTCA was established in 2018 as part of the UK government's Northern Powerhouse initiative, which aims to boost economic growth and job creation in the North of England. The NTCA has responsibility for a range of issues, including transport, economic development, and culture and tourism. In 2019, Jamie Driscoll was elected as the first North of Tyne mayor.

Green regulation.

Newcastle is the first city in the world to have three anchor institutions (local authority, hospital trust, and university) declare a Climate Emergency and make Net Zero commitments through the development of climate strategies in the city’s sectors since 2019.

The city is establishing itself as an international climate leader, recognized as such by international climate research provider Carbon Disclosure Platform (CDP) through the award of ‘A’ grade status – one of only 95 places globally to receive the top rating.

The Net Zero Newcastle 2030 Action Plan sets out Newcastle’s long-term strategic vision to be net zero carbon emissions by 2030. An ambitious program of Net Zero interventions will deliver the action plan, focusing on energy, the transportation sector, climate adaptation, and sustainability.

Hot topics and innovation priorities.

What innovation topics are important for the city at the moment? What are the challenges the city is tackling?

Healthy Ageing and Longevity

Home to the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Newcastle is playing a key role in research around healthy ageing and longevity, encouraging city leaders and stakeholders to play a more active role in the wellbeing of the population.

Smart Cities and Digital Transformation

With one of the fastest-growing technology clusters in the UK, Newcastle is at the forefront of innovation and research about digital transformation and how we use data to improve the quality of life for residents.

Energy Innovation

As a leader of the first Industrial Revolution, Newcastle is driving forward the Green Industrial Revolution through innovation and research, connecting up with the North East coast, which has a highly developed offshore sector made up of world-leading companies.

Ecosystem overview.

Newcastle's investment proposition is built upon its strong research and innovation capabilities, prestigious universities, and prime development sites. With its forward-thinking approach and supportive business environment, Newcastle is well-positioned to attract investment, drive inclusive economic growth and create exciting opportunities for many years to come. Over the last 5 years, Newcastle-based startups have raised over $380M* in funding, accounting for roughly a third of VC investment activity in the North East region.

Innovation districts

At the heart of this ecosystem is Newcastle Helix, an urban innovation district. It is home to the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing and National Innovation Centre for Data, making it a world-leading center for research and innovation in the fields of healthy ageing and data science.

Leading universities

Newcastle’s two universities, Newcastle and Northumbria, are academic institutions that have earned a global reputation for research excellence. Newcastle University is a member of the Russell Group meanwhile Northumbria was named Times Higher Education’s University of the Year for 2022. With almost 60,000 students enrolled, these universities provide a solid foundation for fostering innovation.

Attractive infrastructure

Newcastle boasts an array of attractive physical and digital infrastructure for new companies, with key strategic sites such as Newcastle Helix, Pilgrim Street, and Stephenson Quarter offering investors a unique opportunity to establish themselves in the city.

*Source: Dealroom

Relevant ecosystem players.

Innovation SuperNetwork

Innovation Alliance
Innovation SuperNetwork is a collaborative platform comprising 60 partners, including all five North East universities and various high-profile organizations from both the public and private sectors. This network aims to bring together the innovation ecosystem to support economic growth.
Funding
Business Opportunities

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National Innovation Centre for Data

Innovation Center
The National Innovation Centre for Data was created in 2019 with £30 million in funding from UK Government and Newcastle University. Their mission is to transfer data skills to the UK workforce, ensuring that organizations across the country are equipped to reap the benefits of the global data-driven revolution, led from the North East.
Data Skill Training
Business Opportunities

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National Innovation Centre for Ageing

Innovation Center
A world-leading organization supported by initial investment from UK Government and Newcastle University. Together with VOICE, a global citizen network, they have developed a novel approach to Ageing Intelligence®, which brings together data-driven insight and human experiences to help bring new products, business models, and services to market that support aging populations.
Webinars
Consulting

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Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Research Center
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is a leading research and development center located in North East England. The center focuses on accelerating the growth of the offshore renewable energy sector through innovative technological advancements. Their work spans various fields, including wind, wave, and tidal power, and they collaborate with businesses, academia, and governments to create a sustainable future for energy. The center is equipped with world-class facilities and a team of experts, making it a key player in the region's energy innovation hub.
SME Support Program

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International Centre for Connected Construction

Research Center
The International Centre for Connected Construction (IC3) is a research center based at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The center focuses on driving innovation and digital transformation in the construction industry through research and development, education and training, and industry partnerships. IC3 leverages emerging technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create sustainable, connected, and efficiently built environments.
Consulting
Business Opportunities

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The Faraday Institution North East

Research Center
The Faraday Institution North East is a research center based at Newcastle University in North East England, dedicated to developing cutting-edge energy storage technologies. The center focuses on developing new materials and technologies to enable the transition to a low-carbon energy system, with a particular emphasis on improving battery performance and longevity. Their research spans across various applications, including electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and portable electronics. The Faraday Institution North East collaborates with industry, academia, and governments to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions for the energy sector.
Access to Network
Research Program

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North East Battery Alliance

Innovation Alliance
The North East Battery Alliance is productively convening academic researchers, battery manufacturing companies, suppliers, and local government. facilitating collaboration, and galvanizing the North East region's assets into a cohesive group.
Network Access

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Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres

Industrialization Center
The DER Centres, established as part of the UK Government's Driving the Electric Revolution initiative, serve as strategic hubs aimed at assisting businesses across various sectors, such as transportation and energy. Their primary objective is to encourage investments and foster collaboration, leveraging the UK's expertise in electrification technology. In the North East, Newcastle University takes the lead in operating the DER Centre North East, located within the International Advanced Manufacturing Park. This facility serves as a hub for northern businesses interested in virtual product development, digital manufacturing, and advanced assembly techniques, providing them with a dedicated space and resources.

Funding
Business Opportunities
Consulting

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Urban Observatory (Newcastle University)

Research Center
Part of Newcastle University, the Urban Observatory produces the largest set of publicly available real-time urban data in the UK. The project uses sensors and other technology to collect data about the city's environment, including air quality, traffic, and weather. The goal of the project is to provide real-time data that can be used to inform decision-making and improve the city's infrastructure and services.
Data Analysis
Data Repository

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Dynamo North East

Innovation Alliance
Dynamo was established in 2013 and is an industry-led membership organization with the core mission to ‘Grow the North East Tech Economy’ through collaboration, innovation, and skills. Dynamo's efforts have led to the creation of more opportunities for collaboration and innovation within the industry, and it has helped to develop the skills of individuals working in the sector. Overall, Dynamo has been instrumental in fostering the growth of the North East tech economy.
Network Access

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Floe Hub

Co-working
Floe Hub is a co-working space in the city for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMEs. It offers services and resources to support business growth. The space is partnered with Barclays I Eagle Labs, a global network of co-working spaces and innovation hubs. Members can connect with a collaborative community and find the resources they need to develop their businesses.
Office Space
Business Opportunities

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Port of Tyne

Innovation Hub
One of three deep sea ports in North East England, the Port of Tyne is prioritizing energy decarbonization and ecosystem regeneration and has become the new operations and maintenance base for the world’s largest wind farm at Dogger Bank. It also hosts the 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub to develop solutions to technological challenges facing the maritime sector and the wider logistics industry both nationally and globally.
Business Opportunities

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Interview Highlight — Video

Nic Palmarini
Director
National Innovation Centre Ageing

Innovation districts and testbeds.

Newcastle Helix

A vibrant 24-acre district that brings together a community of industry leaders, businesses, and top researchers in an internationally renowned innovation community. It’s a collaborative ecosystem for public and private bodies that’s unlike anything else in the UK. Businesses that co-locate here benefit profoundly from being in the center of one of the most important innovation hubs in Europe.

The Core
Newcastle Helix
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5TF

PROTO

The first digital production facility of its kind in Europe offering virtual production, 3D scanning, motion capture, and sound recording. PROTO is part of the Digital Catapult NETV network and is also home to the North East Tees Valley Immersive Lab (one of only four in the UK).

Abbott's Hill
Baltic Business Quarter
Gateshead
NE8 3DF

Shepherd Offshore

Part of the North Bank of the Tyne, Shepherd Offshore includes Neptune Yard and Offshore Technology Park and is one of the UK’s six CORE (Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering) sites. Focusing on businesses that operate offshore and subsea, the site boasts close proximity to the Port of Tyne and the riverfront and is also home to Tyne Subsea, a national Research and Development center for subsea engineering.

Offshore Technology Park,
1 Rendle Road,
Walker,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE6 3NH

Support for startups.

Startups wanting to expand to Newcastle can benefit from a broad range of tools and services—from grants and sponsorships to consulting opportunities.

Land In program
from Invest Newcastle

Program

Land In is a free service designed to make it easy to enter the UK & European markets and is exclusively for overseas businesses wanting to establish a long-term presence here.

North East Growth Hub
Toolkits

Support

The Growth Hub is delivered by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP). The LEP works to make the North East a place where more businesses invest, grow and prosper, to deliver more and better jobs for everyone. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership area covers County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland.

Technology, Innovation & Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGGOR)

Program

The TIGGOR program has been established to support the acceleration of businesses in the North of Tyne and the wider North East England region. Funded primarily by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), the program is designed to boost supply chain growth and productivity in the region’s burgeoning offshore wind and subsea sectors, as well as encourage the market entrance of companies that currently do not operate in these industries.

Ignite North East

Program

Ignite is an early-stage accelerator program for start-ups with high-scaling potential (usually tech). Established in 2011 it’s supported more than 500 founders, who between them have raised hundreds of millions in investment and created hundreds of jobs.

Innovation SuperNetwork Support

Support

Open to businesses across North East England, the Innovation SuperNetwork supports the development of innovation pathways, taps into new markets, launches innovative products, and secures finance. To be eligible to access digital support you must be a small or medium-sized enterprise based in the North East – North of Tyne area.

Interview Highlight — Video

Estelle Blanks
CEO
Innovation SuperNetwork

Funding Landscape.

Newcastle-based startups can benefit from a well-established investment ecosystem across the UK and benefit from dedicated local venture capital and private equity investors as well as debt financing or grants. For a list of UK climate and impact-focused VCs refer to the UK Guide.

Promising urban and climate tech startups.

Breakthrough energy storage systems using ‘second life’ electric vehicle batteries

Sector: Energy
Stage: Late VC
Founded: 2010

Connected Energy

Matthew Lumsden
CEO and Founder

“Newcastle is the natural home for Connected Energy. The city – and our location at the Newcastle Helix - has provided us with everything we need on our scale-up journey. From high-spec, flexible office space, links to two universities and the talent and learnings they provide through to being surrounded by like-minded innovative companies who are working on future energy and climate solutions.”