East Midlands Freeport moves to new permanent home at Nottingham Trent University

The move comes at a significant time for East Midlands Freeport as it continues to attract major investor interest, progress its sites, and support transformational projects that will create thousands of jobs and drive economic growth across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

The new location provides East Midlands Freeport with a base at the heart of the East Midlands innovation ecosystem, bringing the organisation closer to key innovation assets, development sites and strategic partners including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University.

The move from Leicestershire County Council reflects the next stage in East Midlands Freeport’s growth and ambition, positioning across the region. Leicestershire County Council remains a core founding Member of East Midlands Freeport, with East Midlands Airport and associated strategic sites sitting within the county.

Tom Newman-Taylor, CEO of East Midlands Freeport, said: “This is a positive step for East Midlands Freeport as we continue to build momentum across the region. Establishing our permanent home at MTIF places us right at the centre of one of the UK’s most exciting innovation environments and much closer to many of the partners, businesses and sites we work with every day.

“The East Midlands has a world-class reputation for innovation, research and manufacturing excellence, and being based alongside pioneering organisations and universities will help us strengthen collaboration and unlock even more opportunities for investment and growth.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Leicestershire County Council for hosting and supporting the Freeport team during our early stages. Their support has been invaluable as we established the organisation and laid the foundations for the exciting phase of growth.”

Located at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus, MTIF is a cutting-edge research and innovation hub dedicated to advancing medical technologies, healthcare innovation and collaboration between academia and industry. The facility brings together businesses, researchers and innovators to accelerate the development of new technologies and ideas, making it a natural fit for East Midlands Freeport’s mission to drive investment, innovation and job creation across the region.

Dr Robert Reisel, Managing Director of the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF), said: “Welcoming East Midlands Freeport to Nottingham Trent University’s MTIF R&D Hub marks a strong strategic alignment between innovation, investment and regional growth.

“The partnership brings together world-class research, industry collaboration and inward investment to accelerate the development and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies, while driving long-term civic and socio-economic impact across the East Midlands.

“The collaboration also strengthens skills development by creating new opportunities for local talent, reinforcing NTU’s role as a driver of inclusive economic growth. Aligned with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) framework and the University Compact partnership, the collaboration ensures that the benefits of innovation are shared widely across communities.”

Professor Richard Emes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and International at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Universities are essential in supporting innovation, creating jobs and regional investment. We are excited to see this colocation of the East Midlands Freeport within MTIF, our flagship innovation centre for regional medical and rehabilitation technologies, which will bring tenant companies, university spin outs, and academics together with the Freeport team.”

East Midlands Freeport joins a thriving community at MTIF focused on collaboration, innovation and commercialisation - values which sit at the heart of the Freeport’s long-term vision for the region.

The organisation has now settled into its new office and is looking forward to welcoming partners, stakeholders and businesses to its new base in the coming weeks and months.