Austin's Sister City in England
The Austin greater manchester Sister Cities Committee...
Austin and Greater Manchester officially became Friendship Cities in 2025 during an inbound delegation to Austin for SXSW led by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Building on the momentum of that visit, the relationship was formalized with the signing of the Sister City Agreement on June 4, 2026, during an outbound delegation from Austin led by Mayor Kirk Watson.
The partnership creates new opportunities for collaboration in economic development, science and technology, innovation, higher education, transportation and music. Since the Friendship City agreement was established, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Manchester have launched a joint research seed fund to support international research collaboration, demonstrating the partnership's immediate impact. The Austin–Greater Manchester Sister City Committee is launching a quarterly virtual panel series focused on Transportation, Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Innovation.
Partnership Outcomes:
Virtual Panel Discussions between Austin and Greater Manchester
Joint Research between University of Texas at Austin and the University of Manchester
ABOUT Greater manchester
Greater Manchester is one of the United Kingdom's largest and most influential metropolitan regions, located in North West England. Home to more than 2.9 million residents across ten boroughs, it serves as a major center for business, innovation, higher education, culture, and transportation in the UK.
Internationally recognized for its industrial heritage and pioneering spirit, Greater Manchester is now a global leader in advanced manufacturing, digital technology, life sciences, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and green innovation. The region is also renowned for its world-class universities, vibrant music and arts scene, internationally recognized sports organizations, and thriving creative industries, making it an ideal partner for collaboration with Austin.