Liverpool City Region Mayor signs landmark innovation deal with South Korea's 2nd City
A landmark innovation deal was
signed and paves the way for greater co-operation between 2 of the world's most
famous port cities. Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Park Heong Joon, Mayor of Busan
Metropolitan City, in South Korea, aimed at enhancing:- 'mutual
understanding, prosperity and friendship.'
The 5 year deal will see the 2 areas commit to active co-operation initially
linked to innovation in:- digital, smart cities, clean energy and net zero, and
health. Busan is South Korea's 2nd City and the world's 5th busiest port,
serving as Korea's biggest trading hub.
Under the MOU, the City Regions will foster a strategic innovation partnership
and promote science, education, trade and investment exchanges.
The Liverpool City Region is 1 of only 4 places selected to take part in the
Government's UK Republic of Korea Innovation Twins Programme, delivered by
Connected Places Catapult. The programme looks to leverage Liverpool's world
class innovation ecosystem to drive international collaboration.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "As a Region
based around 1 of the world's most famous port cities, our area has always been
as an open and outward looking place. While our reputation for culture, music
and sport may precede us on the global stage, we know that our unique strengths
and assets in science, innovation and research are what continues to attract
partners from around the world to want to work with us. I believe we have all
the capabilities, assets; and the political will; to take our area to the
forefront of UK science and innovation and take advantage of the many thousands
of jobs and training opportunities it will bring to our area. I'm looking
forward to continuing to strengthen our Region's ties with South Korea as we
enter a new chapter in our partnership. Working together, I want to take
advantage of our shared strengths and unique assets to build a stronger future
for our areas and our people."
Park Heong-Joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City in South Korea said:-
"The City of Liverpool is amazing. I've been impressed that historical and
contemporary features harmoniously coexist. Today's MoU and the Innovative Twins
project will become a catalyst to further bolster bilateral ties between the 2
port cities across various avenues from green technology, smart City, R&D, port
regeneration, to culture. The 2 cities share much in common; not to mention, the
2 cities are home to great musicians, Beatles and BTS. I believe the cities have
got huge potential to facilitate co-operation in the years to come and this will
mutually benefit our people in the Regions. And definitely more Koreans and
Brits will visit each City more."
Busan's high level visit includes representatives from:- Busan Techno Park and
Busan Metropolitan Corporation and features tours of some of the City Region's
world class innovation facilities at:- Sci-Tech Daresbury, Glass Futures and
Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, including:- the University of Liverpool's Materials
Innovation Factory and the Digital Innovation Facility.
The Liverpool City Region has been fostering stronger ties with Busan for more
than a year, with active support from the UK Embassy in Seoul and the UK's
Connected Places Catapult, part of Innovate UK.
Senior officials from K Water, the Korean state water corporation that operates
the world's largest tidal power scheme at:- Sihwa Lake, were in the Liverpool
City Region last December to sign a deal to co-operate over development of the
Mersey Tidal Power project; which has the potential to generate enough
predicable, renewable energy to power up to 1 million homes for 120 years. The
move followed initial contact at:- COP26, in Glasgow, and a subsequent visit by
a Combined Authority delegation to South Korea.
The Region's Innovation Prospectus, highlighting its world class innovation and
investment opportunities worth more than £12bn, was then translated into Korean;
a move welcomed by the UK's Ambassador to Korea, Colin Crooks, who hailed the
City Region as a:- 'standout example' of how UK Regional
authorities can develop international trade links.
Liverpool's Universities have also strengthened links with Busan and the Vice
Chancellors of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University
and the Director of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have all met the South
Korean delegation, as have the Science and Technology Facilities Council team
located at:- Sci-Tech Daresbury, the Primary Northern Hub for UK Research and
Innovation.
UK Ambassador to South Korea, Colin Crooks, said:- "With 2023 marking 140
years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Republic of Korea, I am
particularly pleased to see 2 of our most vibrant Regions establishing closer
links. The Liverpool City Region and the City of Busan are natural partners in
so many ways. We look forward to continuing our support of this partnership and
the civic, business and research cooperation opportunities that will be
created."
Connected Places Catapult's Chief Executive, Nicola Yates OBE said:- "This
Memorandum of Understanding between Liverpool City Region and Busan marks the
start of a longer term collaboration, to develop outcome based, sustainable
relationships that deliver tangible projects of innovation collaboration,
creating jobs and growth in both Regions. The scale of the opportunity is large,
with the potential to unlock new business and research opportunities for
innovative companies, and cross-city learning. Connected Places Catapult is
delighted to have helped make this happen."
New LGA analytics shows that future of local buses at risk as Councils face £450 million bill to prop up national free bus pass scheme
AN alarming £452
million had to be spent by Councils in 2022 to prop up the
Government's national concessionary bus fares scheme, new Local
Government Association analysis shows.
The national scheme, which Councils are legally obligated to
administer in England, provides older and disabled people with free
off-peak travel on all local bus services with Local Authorities
responsible for reimbursing bus operators for journeys made by those
with a pass.
Ahead of its Annual Conference which begins next week in
Bournemouth, the LGA said the way the concessionary travel scheme is
funded by Whitehall is unfit for purpose and prevents Councils from
investing in more reliable bus services.
New LGA analysis reveals there was a £452 million gap in the funding
Councils receive from Government for the scheme compared to the
actual number of journeys made in 2022.
This is forcing Councils to plug the gap from their own stretched
budgets. Discretionary bus services; such as:- free peak travel,
community transport services, reduced fares and School transport;
have had to be scaled back by local authorities across the country
for them to top up the statutory national scheme from their
discretionary budgets.
Recently announced measures such as the extension of the £2 bus fare
scheme and extension of emergency funding support for bus operators
will help encourage people back to bus travel and sustain many
lifeline routes.
The LGA said the Government also needs to fully fund the
concessionary fare scheme to ease the pressure on stretched local
budgets, protect cherished bus services and help people travel
during the cost of living crisis as part of a long term, reformed
bus funding model.
This would allow Councils and operators to reverse historic cuts
made to local services, introduce new routes, keep fares down, get
people out of their cars and make our air cleaner.
Cllr Linda Taylor, Transport spokesperson for the LGA, said:-
"The free bus pass is a lifeline for many in our communities. It
allows many vulnerable residents to go shopping, pick up medication,
and attend doctors' appointments. Our analysis shows that the scheme
is not being adequately funded, leaving Councils to try and find
nearly half a billion pounds every year from their own overstretched
budgets to keep it running. This is completely unsustainable. It is
vital this scheme is properly funded so Councils can protect bus
routes and reinvest in local networks. By providing long term
funding for buses across the country, Council can invest in improved
services, attracting more people to use public transport."