Cisco puts Birmingham at centre of its £341m innovation pledge

BIRMINGHAM Science Park Aston is at the centre of a pledge by global tech giant Cisco to invest £341m in innovation in the UK.

The company’s CEO John Chambers cited BSPA in a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron, in which he outlined a £341 million ($500 million) investment goal to the British Innovation Gateway (BIG), a five-year project to drive new economic growth through high-tech innovation.

Cisco’s support for BIG will help bring about two new Innovation Centres in London, which will be linked in to Birmingham Science Park’s innovative ‘Science Park Without Walls’ initiative, called iCentrum.

Announced at last year’s Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, iCentrum is preparing to launch its new Ideas and Communications Suite, which will help technology entrepreneurs and start-ups to link up with businesses and centres of innovation and creativity around the world.

Dr David Hardman, chief executive officer, Birmingham Science Park Aston, said:  “Cisco has clearly demonstrated the strength of commitment it has to our science parks without walls concept.  By pledging to the Prime Minister that an early focus will be made on creating linkages between the Science Park and the new British Innovation Gateway initiative, Cisco will enable us to open up a wealth of ground-breaking opportunities for our Entrepreneurs for the Future business incubation programme in Birmingham.

For the latest news from the region’s top business schools click here.

 “Cisco clearly shares our aspirations that technological focus should not be limited to one area. This new initiative will be the virtual equivalent of High Speed 2, bringing new concepts to Birmingham by helping to deliver a national creative network and assist SMEs and start-up companies to reach their true potential.”

Cllr Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council and chairman of Birmingham Science Park Aston, said: “I proudly describe Birmingham as being the Global City with a Local Heart – and through our relationship with Cisco we are demonstrating our ability to reach out and touch all the corners of the globe. Similarly, however, through their commitment – and the investments I know this will bring to the region – we are able to enrich our ‘local heart’ by providing a vital tool for local businesses and entrepreneurs.”
 
The Science Park’s Entrepreneurs for the Future (E4F) programme aims to support the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. Established in 2009 with support from Birmingham City Council and now funded by the European Regional Development Fund  it has promoted the establishment of over 30 new ventures developing ICT, digital media, games and clean tech products and services.

Phil Smith, vice president and CEO of Cisco UK and Ireland, said: “Creative projects and collaborations such as this provide a vital spur to innovation and growth throughout the UK.  We will continue to work closely with the Park to help sustain and develop future growth.”

The BIG scheme sits alongside the Government’s East London Tech City; a project aimed at creating the UK’s own version of Silicon Valley.

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close