The Principles of Smart Specialisation and Space Cluster Development

Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles outlines the principles of Smart Specialisation and Cluster Development and how it can work within the context of developing a West Midlands Space Cluster. 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 project … Continue reading “The Principles of Smart Specialisation and Space Cluster Development”

The Midlands Now Has an Opportunity to Be a World Leader in Advanced Ceramics

Ben Brittain discusses the Advanced Ceramics sector in the Midlands, and how recent funding may pave the way for the region to become a global leader in Advanced Ceramics. Earlier in the year, City-REDI was proud to be part of a consortium of partners that included Rolls Royce and JCB, to create an Advanced Ceramics … Continue reading “The Midlands Now Has an Opportunity to Be a World Leader in Advanced Ceramics”

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?”

Meet Elizabeth Goodyear, WMREDI’s New Project Manager

I joined the WMREDI Team as Project Manager in May 2021, I have worked at the University of Birmingham for 13 years and have had many varied roles in strategic planning, research, and impact over that time.  My most recent role was as Project Manager for the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Accelerator £1m … Continue reading “Meet Elizabeth Goodyear, WMREDI’s New Project Manager”

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”

Economic Justice in Birmingham and the Black Country Shows That Levelling-up Needs to Focus on People Not Areas

In this blog, Peter Kenway, Director for the New Policy Institute discusses their new report looking at the state of economic justice in Birmingham and the Black Country.   NPI’s new report on economic justice, published by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, assembles the statistics to tell a story that people who live in Birmingham and the … Continue reading “Economic Justice in Birmingham and the Black Country Shows That Levelling-up Needs to Focus on People Not Areas”

University-Industry Relationships and Spill-over Effects in the West Midlands: The Case of the ARLI Collaborative Research Project

Dr Juliane Schwarz discusses the role initiatives can play in transferring knowledge from Universities to Industry, looking specifically at the ARLI programme.    This blog is an introduction to the WMREDI project “University-Industry Relationships and Spillover Effects”. The project aims to increase our understanding of university knowledge commercialisation pathways building on existing research in the … Continue reading “University-Industry Relationships and Spill-over Effects in the West Midlands: The Case of the ARLI Collaborative Research Project”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 15th January 2021

This week we have seen continuing unrest in the USA as the administration changes, increasing infection rates globally and turmoil as Brexit impacts continue to unfold in the short-term. Below is a summary of the key issues this week which influence and shape the policy issues in the region. In the USA thousands of Trump … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 15th January 2021”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 8th January 2021

As 2021 begins, the world is faced with promise and peril according to Deloitte. They note that on the positive side, the distribution of vaccines is underway, offering the promise that, sometime later in the year, the negative impact of the virus could ultimately abate. On the negative side, they highlight the virus continues to … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 8th January 2021”

New publication: UK analysts’ and policy-makers’ perspectives on Brexit: challenges, priorities and opportunities for subnational areas

Dr Deniz Sevinc, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles and Dr Chloe Billing discuss how the voice of the expert was sidelined during the Brexit debates, and why it is crucial for these voices to be heard again for local and regional areas.  Over the last two years, as a part of our ESRC funded project “The Economic Impacts … Continue reading “New publication: UK analysts’ and policy-makers’ perspectives on Brexit: challenges, priorities and opportunities for subnational areas”