West Midlands named one of the most innovative locations in Europe

The West Midlands has been named one of the top three most innovative places in Europe in recognition of its long-standing role at the cutting edge of new technology.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has named the region, alongside Turin in Italy and Espoo in Finland, in its top three shortlist for this year’s prestigious European Capital of Innovation Award, also known as iCapital.

The award recognises towns and cities that successfully connect local people with academics and the private and public sector to improve their wellbeing while at the same time boosting game-changing innovation.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is leading the region's bid.

The West Midlands has a long tradition of innovation going back more than 200 years and remains a 21st century trailblazer in 5G powered technologies, autonomous vehicles and life sciences.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “It’s a privilege to represent the West Midlands on such an important international stage. Our region’s creativity and drive for innovation are helping to solve real-world challenges, improve lives, and boost our economy.

“This recognition highlights the impact of the incredible work happening here, and I’m excited to see how we continue to lead the way, creating opportunities and making a difference for communities across the West Midlands and beyond.”

The Mayor announced the nomination for European Capital of Innovation at the launch of It Starts Here – a bold new destination promotion campaign led by the West Midlands Growth Company to transform perceptions of the region, focusing on our world-class strengths in innovation.

The West Midlands has been a leader in innovation for more than two centuries with inventions such as Watts’ steam engine, Starley’s bicycle, Whittle’s jet engine, the pacemaker, the pen, the world’s leading brain cancer drug, and the world’s first Ibuprofen patch.

That heritage has continued into the 21st century with the West Midlands now a leading test bed for new 5G-powered technologies that are radically improving healthcare.

This includes the UK’s first, wireless camera in a pill or ‘pill cam’ which is being used in a bowel cancer screening programme which can be carried out at home, in local pharmacies or other community locations. This has been highly successful in speeding up diagnosis and potentially saving more lives.

The region is also spearheading advancements in public transport including real-world trials of a fleet of electric self-driving shuttle buses along a 7km route linking Birmingham International rail station, the NEC and Birmingham Business Park.

Key to the shortlisting by the EIC is the £33 million Innovation Accelerator - led by the WMCA as part of the region’s trailblazing devolution deal.

This is providing hundreds entrepreneurs and researchers and fast-growing small firms with the support and funding they need to help commercialise their new and emerging products and technologies, focussing on clean tech and med tech as well as the digital and creative industries.

And earlier this month the WMCA began work to deliver the flagship Investment Zone, capable of driving more than £5bn of investment and 30,000 new jobs, helping to establish the region as a powerhouse for advanced manufacturing, green industries, health-tech and other digital technologies.

The WMCA has also set up the West Midlands Innovation Board to retain and build on the region’s long-standing reputation as a place where great innovators, inventors, and groundbreaking artists can get the support they need to thrive.

This has been strengthened through a new strategic partnership between the WMCA and Innovate UK – the UK's national innovation agency – to help thousands of businesses, entrepreneurs, and researchers access the targeted investment and support they need to develop and commercialise new products, processes, and services.

Mike Wright, chairman of the West Midlands Innovation Board, said: “Being named as one of three finalists in this year's European iCap competition is a tremendous testament to the incredible work happening across the Birmingham and West Midlands innovation ecosystem.

“It reflects not only the region's growing innovation and R&D impact across a number of emerging clusters but also leveraging the diversity of the region. It is a recognition of our competitive standing across Europe and will hopefully accelerate even more activity, investment and business growth in innovation and R&D across the region.”

Neil Rami, chief executive at West Midlands Growth Company, said: “The West Midlands has long been at the vanguard of solutions to the world’s ‘grand challenges’ – from cybersecurity for a safer tomorrow, to the automotive sector’s race to electrification. Home to the UK’s fastest-growing tech sector – valued at £15.3bn – and highest number of companies in emerging tech outside of London, innovation is now the number one catalyst for ambitious international investors with their eyes on expansion.

“This prestigious award, along with our dynamic new destination promotion campaign, It Starts Here, will help to put the West Midlands on the map for global businesses developing the technologies of the future. Our new campaign provides a unique platform for the West Midlands’ public, private and academic sectors to join hands and proudly advocate for the region, so we hope organisations will join us in amplifying its messaging far and wide.”

Supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under Horizon Europe, this year’s European Capital of Innovation will be announced in Lisbon, Portugal in November.

Previous winners of the title, now in its tenth year, include Barcelona, Amsterdam and Athens.