The West Midlands has the potential to become a science hub that can compete with world leaders such as San Diego or Boston, according to a senior academic.
Professor Nigel Thrift, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, told a packed conference at Millennium Point in Birmingham that agencies from across the West Midlands region needed to work together to shift the mindset from regional to global.
“Birmingham Science City has the potential to transform the West Midlands into a hub that can compete with the likes of San Diego, Boston and North Carolina,” he said.
“It enables us to do new and exciting work together.”
Birmingham was designated a Science City by the Government in 2005 – a role which aims to boost economic growth and improve quality of life in the city and across the region.
Experts from the region’s universities and industries are sharing knowledge and skills to provide a stronger economy and cleaner environment, focusing on themes such as lowering carbon output and developing digital and WiFi technology and innovative healthcare.
Andrew Sleigh, group technology officer at Malvern-based QinetiQ, told the Advantage West Midlands-sponsored conference the region had world leading companies, such as JCB and Land Rover, diverse business areas to provide agility and resilience to the economy, a strong technological base and a high quality of life.
“The opportunity is there for the West Midlands to go for it,” he added.
Scientists are already making their mark in the region thanks to a £60m funding package from Advantage West Midlands.
One of the central projects of Science City is a long-term collaboration between Warwick University and Birmingham University researching hydrogen as a source of fuel.
Advantage West Midlands has committed capital funding to collaborative activity between Birmingham and Warwick universities in the areas of materials, energy and translational medicine to further strengthen the research base and improve knowledge transfer with businesses in the region.
With the continued threat of global warming, hydrogen energy is seen as one of the best ways of generating energy without producing excessive amounts of carbon or greenhouse gases.
The project is researching how hydrogen can be generated, stored and used as a power source in buildings, transport and in business.
Advantage West Midlands Director of Innovation Dr Phil Extance said: “Birmingham Science City is an opportunity to develop and use science and technology to improve the prosperity and quality of life in Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
“These projects are the first of many Science City projects which will show how the West Midlands is leading the way in the application of new technologies.”
Dr Extance said important research work was enhancing the region’s reputation, both in the UK and internationally.
Other Birmingham Science City projects include the launch of the UK’s first ocular allergy research centre at Aston University, work into developing biofuels and the development of healthcare procedures.