Birmingham City University agrees MoU with German research body
IN the spirit of European co-operation, Birmingham City University has demonstrated there is still life after Brexit when it comes to academic collaboration.
BCU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German organisation, the Fraunhofer Society to forge a strategic partnership to deliver a new model of research innovation.
The agreement will see the partners work together in the fields of technology and innovation transfer, commercialisation and training.
The initiative builds on the recent development of a number of significant projects in which BCU is taking a lead role, including arts start-up STEAMHouse, the Birmingham Knowledge Hub, the newly-formed West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) and the launch of the six-strong Midlands Enterprise Universities.
Employing more than 24,000 staff, Fraunhofer is Europe‘s largest organisation for applied research, with efforts geared entirely towards human needs: health, security, communication, energy and the environment.
Professor Julian Beer, deputy vice-chancellor, BCU said: “Birmingham City University is delighted to be establishing this formal relationship with one of Europe‘s best known applied research organisations, which aligns so well with our mission and values – it builds on our groundbreaking STEAMHouse initiative; putting creativity and design at the heart of innovation and productivity.“
The international and interdisciplinary team of experts at the Leipzig-based Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy (IMW), combines its economic, social, political and cultural scientific expertise to answer questions relating to knowledge and technology transfer, corporate development in international competition, sustainability management and infrastructure economics.
As part of the partnership signed today, this international capability will be married with BCU’s applied research strengths across the creative industries, social sciences, architecture and urban development, transport and mobility, cyber security and digital technologies, among others.
The partnership will also leverage Fraunhofer’s expertise in technology transfer and commercialisation, the development of creative spaces and applied research.
In a parallel agreement, Fraunhofer IMW will also enter into a partnership with smart city and innovation leaders, Redpill Group, which has spearheaded the development of the BCU-Fraunhofer IMW partnership.
