What can universities actually do in place-based missions?
Drawing on research from the Horizon Europe CATALYSE project, this blog explores six roles universities can play in place-based missions, with examples from Greater Manchester showing how their knowledge, resources and partnerships can support regional transformation.
Following the Fibre: South-South Innovation Exchange between Nepal and Kenya
Sönke Mestwerdt draws on fieldwork in Nepal and Kenya to explore how social innovations travel across the Global South and the conditions that enable new ideas to take root in different settings.
China has more digital policy support than ever. Why are manufacturing SMEs still missing out?
China has extensive digital manufacturing policies, but many SMEs still struggle to access support. Wanyu Zhang explains why, and what policymakers can do.
More Than an Internship
Graduate Administrative Intern Raka Mukherjee reflects on their experience at AMBS as part of the Manchester Graduate Talent Programme.
Insights from the European Science Diplomacy Alliance Conference (2025)
Adam McCarthy and Alice Naisbitt reflect on how emerging geopolitical tensions and research‑security concerns are redefining EU science diplomacy.
Reflecting on the Global Research Experts Meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
MIOIR’s An Yu Chen reflects on her trip to the Global Research Experts Meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on November 24–25, 2025.
Funding for PhDs: Shaping the Future of Science and Innovation
Emily Johnson explores how UK PhD funding disparities across subjects, gender, and regions shape the future of research and innovation.
The AI Thesis Network: A glimpse into gender dynamics of UK STEMM PhD theses
The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming productivity across various innovation-related fields through not only automation of routine cognitive tasks but also creative content generation and complex problem solving. The arrival of...
Unpacking US-China “Decoupling” in AI
MIOIR Doctoral Researchers Xinger Wei and Peiyu Zhan explore the complexities of US-China AI decoupling, revealing how geopolitical tensions are reshaping global tech interdependence.
Beyond Spatial Blindness: The Case for Place-Based Missions
Elvira Uyarra and Kieron Flanagan highlight the critical need for a geographical perspective in mission-oriented innovation policies, arguing that spatially blind approaches risk overlooking place-based dynamics essential for effective and inclusive innovation.
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