Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester City Council have been supported by the University’s GM Policy Hub and academics to create pilot areas of research interest for the city region.

Areas of research interest (ARIs) represent an opportunity for local government (local authorities and the combined authority) to think strategically about how to address major policy problems and offer a unique opportunity for academics to start policy conversations that can lead to research impact.

Through joint workshops with academic and policy experts, followed by consultation within GMCA and Manchester City Council, 13 ARIs have been developed to support delivery of long-term strategic goals.

The ARIs draw on the Greater Manchester Strategy and Our Manchester Strategy, guided by a focus on two priorities: good growth and prevention.

The questions relating to good growth ask how local government can ensure all parts and communities within Greater Manchester benefit from economic growth, as well as how to maximise productivity and output.

The questions on prevention focus on how public services can anticipate needs rather than reacting to crises (for instance, by preventing ill-health that could cost people their jobs) and that are agile and person-centred, rather than bureaucratic and unresponsive.

Because the two themes overlap significantly, a single list of ARIs has been developed for the pilot, with some questions spanning both areas and others more closely aligned to one theme.

The pilot seeks to identify the best evidence and new thinking on these themes. Furthermore, the pilot is also interested in how evidence can be obtained (for instance, by how to involve residents in reforming public services) and is seeking evidence to inform policy on these themes over a 4–10-year horizon.

The ARIs will be available on GM Consult for six months, closing in December 2026.