In September 2003 a partnership of agencies including Manchester city council, Salford City Council, and Manchester's four universities launched the initiative ‘Manchester: Knowledge Capital’ which aimed to create economic growth in the Manchester-Salford region based on knowledge and new ideas. Within this initiative the Knowledge Capital Arc of Opportunity was an area identified as the focus for economic renaissance, extending from the University of Salford in the west to Piccadilly Station in the east and the University quarter to the south. Perceived as a potential business location with special emphasis on cultural and knowledge economy businesses, The Arc of Opportunity was expected to accommodate as many as 50,000 of the 100,000 new jobs that were projected to be created from the ‘Manchester: Knowledge Capital’ initiative. Following the launch, partners worked on a series of masterplans which aimed to contribute to the delivery of the vision.

May also be known under project code MANTV - possily referring to the 'transport vision.'