Priority Sectors

Implementation plans for the four key priority sectors

The Regional Economic Strategy for the East Midlands 2006 – 2020 ‘A Flourishing Region’ (RES) identifies four sectors that are expected to make the greatest contribution to the regional economy. They are:

Transport equipment
Food and drink
Healthcare and bioscience
Sustainable construction.

These sectors were selected on the basis of a number of measures including:

The potential for high quality jobs
Providing good prospects for growth
Having a significant presence in the East Midlands.

RES Priority Action 3e – “Growing the Region’s Key Sectors” – aims to ensure that the priority sectors are considered in the implementation of other actions in the RES to support growth, address skills needs and focus on efficiency and excellence.

iNets

Businesses in the priority sectors are supported to become more competitive and sustainably successful by four innovation Networks (iNets), funded by emda and the European Regional Development Fund.

The iNets were established as part of the first Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS). Each iNet has a team innovation advisers operating in the sector. Advisers provide free and impartial information, advice, contacts, grants and other support to the companies, educational establishments and research organisations with whom they work.

The iNets also deliver programmes of sector specific networking, skills and enabling technology events to facilitate knowledge exchange, sharing ideas and collaboration. The second Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS2) which runs from 2010 – 13 builds on the successes of the iNets and reinforces the aim of a dynamic, knowledge-based and highly competitive East Midlands economy.
For more information visit the East Midlands Innovation Portal or follow the links below to find out more: