Report

A blueprint for digitally driven recovery from Covid-19

This white paper was jointly commissioned by two of the University of Liverpool’s most distinctive, high impact, and industry-engaged assets, the Institute of Digital Engineering & Autonomous Systems (IDEAS) that incorporates the Virtual Engineering Centre as well as the new Digital Innovation Facility, and the Materials Innovation Factory – a world leader in computer and robotics aided materials discovery and design.

The findings are based on the direct input of 200 Manager-level or above business respondents from all major sectors across the North West of England, meaning they have a wider resonance and application beyond the Liverpool City Region.

What the research highlights is the extent, pace and scale at which NW businesses have adopted new digital technologies and made more use of existing ones over the last year, and how significant this has been in terms of positively responding to the pandemic, creating new business models and opportunities, as well as retaining jobs.

The fact that the vast majority of businesses, large and small, intend to continue to adopt, adapt and innovate using digital technologies over the next 12 months clearly illustrates that accelerated digitalisation is here to stay, and how vital this can be to short and medium term economic recovery as well as longer term growth.