Case Studies

Birmingham Science City’s demonstrator projects currently focus on three key challenge areas:

• Digital Media & ICT
• Low Carbon
• Innovative Healthcare

Birmingham Science City (BSC) kick started its demonstrator approach by funding 11 short-term projects (£2.1 million from AWM which levered £1.2 million from other public and private sources) between 2007-09 . These initial projects were designed to showcase new technologies which can benefit businesses in the West Midlands and build links between local business and the knowledge base, as well as address some of the key issues affecting ‘quality of life’ in healthcare, sustainability and digital communications. The projects all demonstrate the West Midlands’ role as a leading player in the application of science and technology in the UK.

Birmingham Science City, building on and learning from the pilot programme, is in the process of developing a portfolio of new demonstrator projects, of a larger scale with a user-led approach. BSC has a particular role in building consortia and projects to take on challenges for the private and public sectors that may have a Science and Technology based solution, and can help to identify suitable funding. BSC is keen to engage new partners from the private and public sectors in these activities. If you would like to find out about the latest demonstrator projects or have an idea you would like to develop, please contact the Demonstrator Manager, Nick Bennett.

In addition to the demonstrator projects there are also a number of larger Capital projects planned – these are focused on increasing the potential of the knowledge base – with the biggest of these projects being the Science City Research Alliance (SCRA). This is a collaborative project between the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham, and you can find out more information on the Research Alliance by visiting the Research Alliance page.