Director – Place and Levelling up, Innovate UK KTN

Dean Cook is the executive lead for Place and Levelling up at Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, and a council of UKRI. His core team of English Regional and Devolved Nation engagement managers are responsible for strategic partnership building across the UK. The team has responsibility for developing Innovate UK’s Place R&D approach and developing strong relationships with local and devolved authorities, governments, and local business leaders. Dean has oversight for the co-delivery of the £312m UKRI Strength in Places Fund, and the new £100m Innovation Accelerator pilot announced in the Levelling Up white paper. As well as a new Launchpad programme with up to £46m to be committed this spending review period.