Cities such as Newcastle and Brighton will become hubs for enterprise and innovation in future, according to a study from HSBC.

Cities such as Newcastle and Brighton will become hubs for enterprise and innovation in future, according to a study from HSBC.

The north-south divide will be bridged as the North of England benefits from lower start-up costs, leading more enterpreneurs to launch businesses there, the report also predicts.

The report’s author, Martin Raymond, says, ‘[We] predict the rise of “supercities” and regions such as Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and Brighton over the next 20 years.

‘These will derive their status, income and prestige from new economic income streams such as biotech, stem cell research, innovation, gaming and even alternative work practices and business models.’

The economic downturn, internationalism, and changing demands on business are identified as the key factors that will drive this change.

Business hubs of the future

   •    Robotics (Edinburgh, Birmingham, Essex, London, Manchester, Plymouth)
   •    Biotech (York and Dundee)  
   •    Nanotech (Oxford, Cambridge, Newcastle, Durham, Bristol, London)  
   •    Stem cell research (Edinburgh, London, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester)  
   •    Nutraceuticals (Dundee, Southampton)  
   •    Renewable energies (London, Wales, Cornwall, Glasgow)  
   •    Cybernetics (Reading)  
   •    Gaming (Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow)