OXFORDSHIRE'S Growth Board has agreed to support plans which it is hoped will boost innovation across the county.

The board, which is made up of the county's district councils and its county council, agreed to look into work on how it could work together to boost the ways Living Labs are set up.

Living Labs seek to pilot new ideas and new technologies in specific locations.

The board heard that with the planned two garden towns and garden village in Oxfordshire, Living Labs could be a perfect place for companies to collaborate more.

Scandinavia has been at the forefront of developing Living Labs.

Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city, is home to a Living Lab which has been involved in a number of projects, which range from trying to ensure quality in childcare services and increasing life quality for elderly people.

Attempts to innovate in the technology sector is supported by the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority, the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency, Nordea, the Danish IT Industry Association, the City of Copenhagen and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

The chief executive of OxLEP and a non-voting member of the board, Nigel Tipple, supported the decision.

He said: “In recent weeks we have seen strong indications that the Oxfordshire economy is building on an environment that supports dynamic economic growth.

“Just last week national research suggested that Oxford had the second fastest-growing economy of any UK city, whilst business space requirements in Oxfordshire increased by 74 per cent in the first half of this financial year.

"We need to ensure that we continue to build on this."