I'm going to start this blog with some questions: Can anyone remember the days before combined authorities? Local Industrial Strategies? Grand Challenges? Can you remember when BEIS was DECC and when Innovate UK was the Technology Strategy Board? Believe it or not, this was the landscape as little as five years ago when I first started … Continue reading Alan Carr: 5 Years with IAWM
In another well attended IAWM event on 22nd November 2018, speakers Andrew Pestana (Interim Head of Innovation, HS2) and Haydn Brown (Head of Procurement Strategy Development, Birmingham City Council) gave an engaging talk on how their organisations are using procurement to stimulate innovation, which invited a lively discussion on the topic. (Andrew Pestana and HS2) To … Continue reading Public and Private Sector Procurement Driving Innovation
Ben Kirsch, West Midlands Policy Advisor and representative for the UK Intellectual Property Office, tells us how Intellectual Property fits within the developing themes for the Local Industrial Strategy.
Here at Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands we have been having fun with our new campaign - using engaging strap-lines to encourage involvement in our three Working Groups (see below). Now it's YOUR turn. Get involved in our campaign by sending us your innovative strap-line, either related to our specific Working Groups, or to … Continue reading Send us your strap-line!
Transport for West Midlands invite attendees from local authorities to join transport providers, industry partners and experts in the field in a dialogue on the future of mobility. The event will include guest speakers Graham Hanson from the Department for Transport, Chris Perry from MaaS Global, the world leader in Mobility as a Service operations, … Continue reading
On the 1st November, Digital InNov8ors are running 'The Skills Academy Employer Event 2018' from 10am - 1pm. Digital InNov8ors recognise the need for employees to hone and utilise their digital skills with confidence, and have thus developed a unique and engaging approach to work readiness training. This event is free and includes a light lunch and a personal Careers Motivation … Continue reading
Join us for our next Innovation Policy and Practice Breakfast - all about how procurement is being used to drive innovation.
You are invited to join one of three initial workshops that will help to shape emerging, large-scale collaborative activities with the potential to significantly impact business innovation and productivity as well as the delivery of public services in the West Midlands and wider Midlands region. By contributing to one of these consultations, you will also … Continue reading Shaping Regional Projects to Stimulate Demand-led Innovation
Since establishing over four years ago, the Venturefest brand has become synonymous with driving growth, supporting talent, stimulating investment, and celebrating innovation across the science and technology sector. The 2018 instalment for the West Midlands continued the delivery of innovative products and services to the marketplace, addressing topical and contemporary developments with an audience of … Continue reading Venturefest Blog Series: Part 6 – That’s a Wrap!
The third and final panel session of VenturefestWM saw leaders of very different, fast-growing West Midlands businesses giving frank, first-hand accounts of what it took to successfully grow their businesses.