Innovate
Surrey is home to some of the UK’s most successful and innovative companies and world-leading sectors. Innovation is our way of life.
Innovation and Surrey
Surrey has a long history of involvement in innovation. It is home to some of the UK’s most successful and innovative companies. Its history includes the world’s first-ever purpose-built motor racing circuit built at Brooklands in 1907. In 1979, the Surrey Space Centre, a world-leading Centre of Excellence in Space Engineering, began.
Many well-known global brands have headquarters in Surrey and sit alongside entrepreneurial startups and micro businesses, adding to Surrey’s diverse and vibrant business scene.
Surrey has three world-class universities. All of them pioneers in cutting-edge research and development.
- The University for the Creative Arts with a focus on creativity, technology, and business.
- The Royal Holloway University of London with its strong research in sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
- The University of Surrey and its adjoining Surrey Research Park are a powerhouse of technological and scientific advancement.
IN Surrey
Innovation Nexus Surrey (IN Surrey) brings together civic, academic and business partners through a triple helix model to turn ideas into inclusive growth.
It aligns priorities, shares intelligence and delivers integrated programmes – embracing creativity, world‑class research and enterprise intelligence.
IN Surrey recognises that Surrey is one of the most dynamic innovation economies in the United Kingdom.
The ecosystem spans globally recognised clusters in areas such as AI, space, life sciences, creative technologies, cybersecurity and net zero, supported by a highly skilled workforce and specialist research assets.
IN Surrey provides a shared identity and narrative that helps partners communicate consistently, attract investment and showcase the county’s strengths.
It reflects an innovation culture rooted in place and designed to scale ideas quickly, benefiting Surrey’s people, businesses and communities.
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Location
With excellent connections, proximity to London, two international airports, a desirable location and a highly skilled workforce – it’s easy to see how innovation is deeply embedded as a way of life for Surrey businesses.
Our commitment to the future
Surrey is leading the way in several key sectors crucial to the UK’s future economy, from cybersecurity to creative industries, gaming to food and drink.
Surrey’s sustainability sector is strengthened by Surrey County Council’s green agenda. It is committed to a net zero future and is working with businesses and organisations worldwide to bring innovation to the region to help transition to a low-emission economy.
We are committed to bringing together companies in key sectors, encouraging investment and building infrastructure, and ensuring that the required workforce has all the necessary skills to prosper for years to come.
Take a look at some of our key sectors.
Key sectorsKey stats
Universities
Two of the UK’s Gold Standard Cyber Security Universities
Innovation
World’s largest 5G/6G Innovation Centre
Space research
Largest UK Academic Centre for Space Engineering Research