M3 Corridor: £30m pledged for University of Surrey's 5G Innovation Centre

Enterprise M3, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the wider M3 corridor, welcomes the news that the University of Surrey has moved a step closer to delivering its specialised 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) on its main campus in Guildford after it received support from a significant number of the world’s most notable mobile network operators, infrastructure and tools providers, media and communications organisations and the UK’s communications regulator. 

The consortium, which includes: Aeroflex, AIRCOM International, BBC, BT, EE, Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe, Huawei, Ofcom, Rohde & Schwarz, Samsung, Telefonica and Vodafone, has pledged time, expertise and other contributions which together total more than £30 million. This will be added to the £11.6m that was awarded by the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) in autumn last year.

Geoff French, chair of Enterprise M3 LEP, said: “I am delighted that the 5G Innovation Centre has moved a step closer to becoming a reality. The fact that it is being supported by world-class global companies is a significant vote of confidence in both the University of Surrey and the Enterprise M3 area as a place to do science and technology business.

“Sir Andrew Witty, in his recently published report, highlighted the importance of universities in supporting UK growth. Enterprise M3 has welcomed Sir Andrew’s recommendations on the role that LEPs should play in helping universities unlock economic growth. We will be working with the University of Surrey to help create UK jobs and long-term wealth through the development of advanced 5G technologies.

“Our aim is to help the University build 5G into a significant new sector that builds on, and links to, the science and technology corridor that runs through Surrey and Hampshire. This sector will have growth benefits not just to the Enterprise M3 area but also for the whole UK economy. It will also enhance our country’s reputation as a leader in telecommunications, digital media and science.”