In this article, John Morgan in the Times Higher Education Supplement, discusses the government’s plans to create ‘innovation accelerators’ in Glasgow, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. City-REDI / WMREDI’s Professor Simon Collison comments on the plans for the West Midlands. Plans to create three UK “innovation accelerators” are seen as giving city regions and … Continue reading “UK Regional Innovation Pilots ‘Should Shun Silicon Valley Myth’”
Author: Simon Collinson
Innovation Accelerators
Simon Collinson and Carolin Ioramashvili discuss how University-Industry Collaborations support SME Innovation in the West Midlands and Beyond. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2022. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an … Continue reading “Innovation Accelerators”
Levelling Up: Four Problems With Boris Johnson’s Flagship Project
Dr Jack Newman, Professor Nigel Driffield, Professor Nigel Gilbert and Professor Simon Collinson discuss some of the issues with the new Levelling Up White Paper. The UK government has revealed its plan to level up the country – a white paper setting out policies to tackle inequality between places. The plan comes at a defining moment. It’s … Continue reading “Levelling Up: Four Problems With Boris Johnson’s Flagship Project”
University R&D and Innovation Are Essential to Government Ambitions for Levelling Up
Professor Simon Collinson highlights the significance of University R&D to regional economics in the UK and why this is so important for levelling up. This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Brief. The benefits of economic growth and wealth creation are usually distributed unevenly. Dealing with the increase in socio-economic and spatial inequality requires … Continue reading “University R&D and Innovation Are Essential to Government Ambitions for Levelling Up”
Providing the Right Support for the Right Firms in the Right Places
With less funding available in the future, Professor Simon Collinson discusses the need for national and local agencies to provide targeted support to the right kind of businesses to help achieve better regional growth. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced … Continue reading “Providing the Right Support for the Right Firms in the Right Places”
Levelling Up Through Innovation
On 25th November 2021, Professor Simon Collinson took part in a House of Commons Select Committee to explore the role of technology, research and innovation in the UK’s recovery from Covid-19. In this blog, Simon discusses some of the key points to come out of the committee. What are the opportunities and challenges for R&D … Continue reading “Levelling Up Through Innovation”
Combining Growth and Levelling Up in UK Regions: How Universities and the Social Sciences Can Help
In this piece, Professor Simon Collinson describes the crucial roles to be played by city-regions and by universities if we are going to level up effectively. This article was first posted on the Academy of Social Sciences website. Over the next few years, the UK faces further challenges which, like the economic impacts of Covid, … Continue reading “Combining Growth and Levelling Up in UK Regions: How Universities and the Social Sciences Can Help”
Build Back Better? The Real Challenges of Levelling Up Post-Pandemic
Professor Simon Collinson writes about some of the challenges that lie ahead to sustain the tentative economic recovery in the West Midlands and level up the region. This article was first featured as a Birmingham Brief. The Covid pandemic has hit the UK economy harder than most other OECD countries and the West Midlands … Continue reading “Build Back Better? The Real Challenges of Levelling Up Post-Pandemic”
Hidden Potential? The Role of Universities in the Development of Space-Related Innovation Clusters
Professor Simon Collinson outlines the important role of universities as both R&D producers and skills developers within the development of space-related innovation clusters in the West Midlands region. This blog has been produced to provide insight into a City-REDI / WMREDI project looking at the development of a Space Cluster in the West Midlands. The … Continue reading “Hidden Potential? The Role of Universities in the Development of Space-Related Innovation Clusters”
How Can the Space Sector Drive Growth and Productivity in the West Midlands?
Professor Simon Collinson and Julia Goldsworthy discuss the development of a West Midlands Space Cluster and what it might mean for the region and the wider UK economy. This blog has been produced to provide insight into a City-REDI / WMREDI project looking at the development of a Space Cluster in the West Midlands. The … Continue reading “How Can the Space Sector Drive Growth and Productivity in the West Midlands?”