Future Cities Catapult targets Birmingham for innovation campaign
BIRMINGHAM’S entrepreneurial community is being targeted as part of a new initiative by the Government-backed global centre of excellence in urban innovation, Future Cities Catapult.
The programme has chosen the second city for the launch of its first ever Innovation Week, which takes place between December 6-12.
Aimed at Birmingham’s thriving community of SME’s and entrepreneurs, Future Cities Catapult has developed a week-long programme of events to connect with local businesses, drive innovation, and promote opportunities in the smart cities market.
Innovation Week Birmingham aims to bring together businesses, universities and city leaders to explore ways to make Birmingham a better place to live, work and visit.
Six free talks and workshops will be taking place across the city covering a variety of themes, including:
• Health and Future Cities: focusing on how cities can harness new technologies and approaches to mitigate the negative health impacts of city life
• Future of Planning: exploring how technology could transform planning and urban development in Greater Birmingham and beyond
• Data Visualisation: looking at techniques to turn raw city data into striking visualisations which explore and address urban challenges
Scott Cain, Chief Business Officer at Future Cities Catapult, said: “Birmingham has a great history of innovative thinking and is home to a vibrant pool of SMEs and startups. We’re really looking forward to collaborating with local entrepreneurs to harness innovation, solve urban problems, and future-proof this great city.”
Cllr John Clancy, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I cannot think of a more suitable place than Birmingham for Future Cities Catapult to stage the first ever Innovation Week. Birmingham, once renowned across the world as the city of a thousand trades, is still at the very heart of entrepreneurialism – nurturing small businesses is ingrained in our DNA.”
The city has a reputation to maintain, having been named as the most entrepreneurial place in the UK in this year’s Enterprising Britain Awards.
