Goal 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

Global industrialisation has always brought about economic winners and losers. Underdeveloped countries need help to build economies, have the infrastructure in place, be able to achieve technological innovation, increase manufacturing output and be able to trade internationally to advance.

Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research and knowledge exchange, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

Research and impact

The University leads in the integration and exploitation of virtual engineering technologies such as advanced modelling and simulation. Recent pioneering AI research in science and law, showcased at Parliament in 2025, exemplifies collaboration across sectors to develop responsible and impactful AI solutions (Targets 9.2, 9.5). The AI for Chemistry Hub (AIChemy) accelerates sustainable materials discovery by applying AI to chemical research, supporting industrial innovation and enhancing research capacity (Target 9.5). Partnering with Sustainable Ventures, the University scales academic spinouts to market, supporting entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth (Target 9.3). We have set a new national benchmark for UK digital inclusion in 2025, addressing infrastructure gaps and promoting equitable access to digital technology (Target 9.1). Our analysis of UK clinical trials highlights new pathways to accelerate medical breakthroughs (Target 9.5), while the Muon g-2 experiment delivers the most precise measurement of the magnetic anomaly, showcasing world-leading research infrastructure (Target 9.5).

Education and student experience

The University offers courses that develop skills in industry, innovation, and infrastructure, including Building Information Modelling and Digital Transformation, which advance digital design and automation in architecture, engineering, and construction (Targets 9.4, 9.5). Students engage in real-world challenges through partnerships with centres like the Virtual Engineering Centre, gaining expertise in advanced modelling and sustainable engineering (Target 9.5). Programmes in environmental sciences, engineering, energy management, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation MSc cultivate sustainable industrial growth and innovation (Targets 9.3, 9.4). Entrepreneurial support includes the Design Your Future programme and Enterprise Fund, offering mentorship and funding to student ventures, supporting innovation-led economic development (Target 9.3). Student projects utilising AI, digital modelling, and sustainable materials demonstrate practical application of innovation, preparing graduates to contribute to resilient industries and infrastructure (Targets 9.2, 9.5).

Sustainable campus and operations

The University supports SDG 9 by fostering innovation, advanced infrastructure, and industry collaboration. The Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), a world-leading facility in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, underpins regional and global industrial growth through cutting-edge materials research and has attracted nearly £100 million in investment (9.1, 9.5). The Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), a £12.7 million centre co-funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, enhances digital infrastructure for AI and emerging technologies, boosting research capacity and sustainable industrial development (9.5, 9.b). Through the £14 million Eco-I North West programme, the University collaborates with six partner universities to support SMEs in developing low-carbon innovations, strengthening knowledge exchange and applied research across the region (9.2, 9.3). The University integrates sustainability into infrastructure investments. Energy-efficient laboratory upgrades, smart digital systems, and low-carbon design principles improve performance, reduce emissions, and demonstrate leadership in sustainable infrastructure (9.4). Enterprise hubs and internship pathways further support technology transfer, incubation, and innovation diffusion, reinforcing Liverpool’s role in regional and national industrial resilience (9.3, 9.b).

Case studies

Pioneering low-carbon biomaterials for bone health

In 2025, the University of Liverpool began leading GreenNanoBone, a €8.6 million Horizon Europe project to create AI-optimised biomaterials derived from food waste for the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This debilitating condition affects thousands of cancer patients each year across the UK and EU. The initiative directly advances SDG 9 (9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5).

Current MRONJ treatments are limited and often involve long-term antibiotics, increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. GreenNanoBone instead develops injectable and 3D-printable 4D hydrogels that support tissue regeneration, are biocompatible and antimicrobial, and are sustainably sourced from waste streams such as potato pulp.

The project brings together 18 research, clinical and industrial partners from across Europe, integrating expertise in materials science, regenerative medicine, health economics and social science. At Liverpool, researchers from the Faculties of Health and Life Sciences and Science and Engineering lead both the technical innovation and clinical application.

GreenNanoBone is expected to benefit up to 6,000 patients annually in the UK and EU, with potential application to osteoporosis and complex fractures. It also exemplifies circular economy principles by transforming food waste into high-value medical solutions, building sustainable industry capacity and training early-career researchers.

Dr Katarzyna Gurzawska-Comis, project coordinator at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, described the initiative as a model for sustainable and socially responsible medical innovation, demonstrating Liverpool’s leadership in inclusive, resilient healthcare infrastructure and sustainable industrial practice.

Mayor Steve Rotheram visits Digital Innovation Facility

In February 2024, Mayor Steve Rotheram visited the University’s Digital Innovation Facility to explore its achievements and discuss enhancing the Liverpool City Region’s digital and AI capabilities. The DIF, supported by the University and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Growth Fund, is a hub for developing and applying next-generation digital technologies across industry and the public sector. In over 18 months, the DIF has facilitated over 100 collaborations, secured more than £5m in investment, and helped establish the UK’s first National Centre for Digital Heritage Research. It supports SMEs in the region through programs led by the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), co-located at the DIF. During his visit, Mayor Rotheram toured the facility, met with the Digital Media Society Institute (DMSI), and viewed the Meta-Liverpool map—a digital asset and policy modeling tool. He also learned about advancements in the Autonomous Chemistry lab, which is pioneering the use of autonomous robotics in chemistry. Mayor Rotheram expressed his ambition to position the region as a leader in emerging technologies, emphasising the potential of AI to create high-skilled jobs, improve public services, and drive regional success. The DIF, with its six advanced laboratories, is central to this vision, integrating research and commercial expertise to advance digital technologies.

Revolutionising AI software

Researchers at the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with IBM, developed an AI assistant to assist synthetic chemists in discovering cost-effective methods for creating organic molecules. Published in Nature Chemistry, the study described how the AI software used Bayesian optimisation to recommend the next experiments based on prior results. The system helped create a catalyst formulation for carbon-carbon bond formation that replaced the expensive metal iridium. Professor Andrew Cooper emphasised that while Bayesian optimisation is effective, it must incorporate fundamental chemical principles to avoid inefficient trials. This AI tool guided researchers through 107 experiments, reducing the number of potential combinations to discover iridium-free catalysts. This advancement in computational techniques promises significant improvements in optimising chemical reactions.

Driving success at LCR Innovation Investment Week

The University of Liverpool played a pivotal role in the inaugural Liverpool City Region (LCR) Innovation Investment Week, held from May 14–16, 2024. The event showcased local and global innovation opportunities, highlighting the University’s involvement in several key initiatives. This included supporting the launch of the Life Sciences Investment Zone, which aims to attract £800 million in investment and create 8,000 jobs. The University also hosted a reception at the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), where Professor Matt Rosseinsky presented on digital tools in material science. The week featured a Dragons’ Den-style pitching event, where innovative University spin-outs like AI Sight Ltd presented their ideas to investors, and the University contributed to the Pint of Science festival with over 40 academics engaging the public in scientific discussions. Additionally, Professor Andrew Owen spoke at the Bionow Pharma Manufacturing Conference on new technologies developed at the University’s Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics. The week underscored the University’s commitment to driving regional innovation, strengthening ties between academia, industry, and the community to foster economic growth.