Meet Matt Lyons, City-REDI / WMREDI’s New Research Fellow

I joined the City-REDI team as a research fellow in May 2021. The focus of my role is to develop and exploit the economic modelling capabilities of the institute. Prior to joining City-REDI, I have had the opportunity to work with different organisations across diverse research areas. In 2018, I worked at a London-based not-for-profit … Continue reading “Meet Matt Lyons, City-REDI / WMREDI’s New Research Fellow”

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?”

R&D Investment in Our City-Region: Local Potential for Future Inclusive Growth

Professor Simon Collinson discusses a recent study by City-REDI and the West Midland Combined Authority mapping the inflows of various kinds of public R&D investment into the region.  R&D and the West Midlands The West Midlands attracts a significant amount of private sector R&D investment, about £398 per capita according to one study (Jones and … Continue reading “R&D Investment in Our City-Region: Local Potential for Future Inclusive Growth”

Levelling Up in the Knowledge Economy: Can the Ruhr Shake off its Rust?

Professor Matthias Kiese discusses the structural transformation of the Ruhr in Germany, a region attempting to leave behind its industrial past and move towards a knowledge-based economy.   A broader analysis looking at the progress the Ruhr region has made towards levelling up over the last five decades can be found in the Industrial Strategy Council’s … Continue reading “Levelling Up in the Knowledge Economy: Can the Ruhr Shake off its Rust?”

Event: Harnessing the Potential of Createch in the West Midlands – 22nd April 2021, 13:00 – 14:20

Creative industries can be a catalyst of innovation across all sectors, enabling transformative new products and services which can drive regional economic growth, wellbeing and quality of life. In particular, the integration of technology and creative industries (‘Createch’) can satisfy consumer demands and solve societal challenges. Perhaps harnessing virtual production, VR or AR and theatre … Continue reading “Event: Harnessing the Potential of Createch in the West Midlands – 22nd April 2021, 13:00 – 14:20”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th March 2021

This week it good to highlight the vaccine rollout continues at pace. The Midlands has successfully vaccinated 3,358,909 people with the first dose of the vaccine and 95,203 of these individuals have received the second dose. The Midlands has successfully continued to provide the most doses of the first jab and has remained the 3rd … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th March 2021”

The West Midlands Datastore: Request for Partners

The WMCA today issued a Request for Proposals (Access tender documents here) to help us develop a West Midlands Datastore. This was a key element of our Digital Roadmap and builds on the work of our Office for Data Analytics and Transport for the West Midlands Data Insights team. In this blog, Adam Hawksbee and Rebecca … Continue reading “The West Midlands Datastore: Request for Partners”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 5th March 2021

It is Budget week and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented HMG’s Budget 2021 to the House of Commons on 3 March 2021. The Chancellor outlined measures in the Government’s Build back better: our plan for growth budget aimed at supporting jobs and businesses and stabilizing public finances. Budget summary: Business: £126m to fund … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 5th March 2021”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 22nd January 2021

This week we have seen significant changes in the USA with the inauguration of the 46th President; this could signal changing relationships which are yet to be understood. The current lockdown is adding uncertainty to business planning and forecasting, the impacts of the new EU trade deal are continuing to unfold, resulting in demonstrations by … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 22nd January 2021”

Regional Resilience: The Co-dependence of Business and Regions in Recovery

This article was written by Professor Simon Collinson for the National Centre for Universities and Business’ seventh annual assessment of the health of collaborative partnerships – The State of the Relationship Report 2020.  The article reflects on regional specialisms, the unequal impact of the disruptions of 2020 and the value of analysis of regional economies. … Continue reading “Regional Resilience: The Co-dependence of Business and Regions in Recovery”