University engagement centre for SMEs to be established in Birmingham

THE Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) has awarded Innovation Birmingham a £2.49m grant to create a new centre for SMEs to engage with the city’s universities

A purpose-designed centre will be developed on land within Innovation Birmingham’s Faraday Wharf site.

Subject to planning, the new facility will be open in 2016.

The universities centre is the second of five new developments totalling £45m planned on the Innovation Birmingham Campus. The first – iCentrum – is a 41,700 sq ft technology incubation and collaboration building, which will open in March 2016. 
 
The universities centre will be designed by AHR Architects’ national technology team and delivered by Midlands headquartered Thomas Vale Construction.

A planning application will be lodged this summer.

The centre will feature video conferencing, offices, training and meeting space as well as co-working and collaboration space.

Andy Street, chairman of the GBSLEP said: “Having a dedicated, neutral centre where SMEs and researchers, staff and students from the five local universities can meet and collaborate on projects will be a new asset for the city region.

“Innovation Birmingham will work with Aston University, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Newman University and University College Birmingham to drive activity that will resonate with SMEs.

“The technology and digital sector is one of the GBSLEP’s target growth areas, and this £2.94m Local Growth Fund grant award will lead to many new relationships and projects being forged year on year, which will contribute to the regional economy.”

Dr David Hardman MBE, CEO of Innovation Birmingham said: “Having a dedicated centre for university engagement on the Innovation Birmingham Campus will give the city region a catalyst facility, creating a novel edge in how we can help to support start-ups and growing SME businesses.

“While universities already run a range of initiatives to engage with business, we will co-ordinate a bespoke programme that will enable SMEs that have never thought of collaborating with a university to see how it could add value.”