Increasing productivity in the agriculture sector via UK satellite applications

The government’s plan to secure growth in the UK’s £13.7bn space industry was outlined in the Queen’s Speech last Wednesday (21st June 2017). The plan involved “enabling [scientists] to launch from UK soil” and updating legislation to “offer the UK’s world-leading small satellite companies new options for low-cost, reliable access to space”. This pledge followed … Continue reading “Increasing productivity in the agriculture sector via UK satellite applications”

City-REDI welcomes Guangzhou University

City-REDI held a workshop last week with its sister research centre based at Guangzhou University, Guangdong, China. This was an ideal opportunity for the two research centres to share research ideas and approaches and to explore opportunities for on-going collaboration. In May 2016, a linked research centre to City-REDI was established in Guangzhou, China. With … Continue reading “City-REDI welcomes Guangzhou University”

Meet Professor Anne Green, Chair of Regional Economic Development at City-REDI

I’m a human geographer with particular interests in population geography, economic geography and the geography of labour markets. I am especially interested in spatial dimensions of employment change and issues of non-employment, local skills strategies, inclusive growth, migration, and urban and regional development. My interests stray into several other fields too but most of my … Continue reading “Meet Professor Anne Green, Chair of Regional Economic Development at City-REDI”

Smart Specialization, Regional Growth and Applications to European Union Cohesion Policy, Best Paper 2016, Regional Studies

At the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference 2017 held in Dublin, my paper “Smart Specialization, Regional Growth and Applications to European Union Cohesion Policy” published by Regional Studies and co-authored with Professor Philip McCann from the University of Sheffield received the 2016 Award for the Best Paper in Regional Studies. It was voted the best … Continue reading “Smart Specialization, Regional Growth and Applications to European Union Cohesion Policy, Best Paper 2016, Regional Studies”

AnalystFEST #2

12 July 2017 from 09:30 to 12:30 Room G11, Alan Walters Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT  After the successful first event earlier this year, City-REDI and the Black Country Consortium would like to explore the use of the AnalystFEST network to think about the future development of the WMCA Performance Management Framework. We are keen to … Continue reading “AnalystFEST #2”

Strong and Stable Leadership – why city leadership becomes more important in times of national turbulence

To say we are in interesting times would be an understatement, the recent general election has plunged us further into uncertainty. Putting aside the rights and wrongs of holding the election and the unfolding political alliances it’s important to remember that on the ground people and businesses are struggling to keep up with the changes … Continue reading “Strong and Stable Leadership – why city leadership becomes more important in times of national turbulence”

What are the economic impacts of Brexit on the UK’s sectors, regions and cities?

This piece was written by City-REDI’s Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés. Recent research suggests that the UK’s cities and regions which voted for Brexit are also the most economically dependent on EU markets for their prosperity and viability (Los, McCann, Springford and Thissen, 2017). This is a result of their differing sectoral and trade composition. Different impacts are … Continue reading “What are the economic impacts of Brexit on the UK’s sectors, regions and cities?”

YouGov called the election right. How?

  This General Election has been full of surprises. So I’ve been digging into the YouGov MRP voting model, pretty much the only one that got the 2017 Election result correct. Given all the current humble pie and book eating by pundits who didn’t spot the result coming, this seems worth doing. I also think … Continue reading “YouGov called the election right. How?”

City REDI at the RSA Annual Conference 2017, Dublin

The RSA Annual Conference 2017 was held 4-7 June in Dublin.  The conference theme was The Great Regional Awakening: New Directions and it featured presentations and panel sessions by leading scholars, experts, and researchers. In attendance from City REDI were Professor Anne Green, Professor Raquel Ortega Argiles, Dr Catherine Harris and Deniz Sevinc. City-REDI organised … Continue reading “City REDI at the RSA Annual Conference 2017, Dublin”

City-regions need great universities as strong and committed ‘anchor institutions’

City-REDI has published the first in their series of briefing papers. This paper looks at the role of universities as key ‘anchor institutions’ for enhancing the economic, social and cultural offer of a place and its wider region. Please see the full briefing here. Following a discussion of the policy context and the role of universities … Continue reading “City-regions need great universities as strong and committed ‘anchor institutions’”