Number one destination for science and innovation.

Birmingham is leading the way in positioning the wider West Midlands region as the premier location for science and technology through the Birmingham Science City partnership. With the appointment of a new Director of Birmingham Science City, the partnership is urging local businesses to get involved in building on the city's history by being a provider of 1,000 twenty-first century trades.

Focusing on four key technology strengths - digital, low carbon, innovative health care and security technologies - the partnership will firmly establish the region as a centre of scientific and technological excellence

Underpinning the initiative are interlocking areas of action:

1. Infrastructure - making sure that local businesses benefit from access to world-class physical and virtual infrastructure e.g. business parks, digital connectivity and R&D facilities.
2. Business - ensuring that the region is attractive for inward investment and supports spin outs and existing business to innovate.
3. Market demand - developing demonstrator projects across the four technology areas to address key challenges in the region, such as congestion and carbon reduction, creating new markets in the process.
4. Science and technology - attracting cutting-edge researchers to the region and establishing a critical mass of world-class academics and research facilities.
5. Skills and attitudes - growing employment and career progression opportunities for people working in science and technology, including creating an environment in which young people are encouraged and enthused to pursue careers in these areas.

Already the partnership is delivering pioneering research and development through £56m (to rise to up to £80m) Collaborative Package investment into partnership work between the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick in the themes of energy, translational medicine and advanced materials. This investment will lever in further funding (over £20m so far) and enable the Universities to support and collaborate with business as well as increase research partnerships and international visibility for the region. An early example of success is development of the hydrogen fuel cell car at the University of Birmingham.

In addition, Birmingham is on track to become the UK's first 'intelligent city' through the use of digital technologies to improve traffic flow and encourage more efficient use of public transport. Partners in this project include Microsoft, Cisco and Coventry University.

Dr Pam Waddell joined the Birmingham Science City partnership as Director at the end of June 2009. Her remits includes leading the Birmingham Science City initiative; working with partners to achieve shared goals of exploiting the City and region's R&D strengths; increase the level of engagement with S&D and build the reputation of the City and region for cutting edge science and technology and its applications.

Pam comments, "Birmingham Science City is a powerful partnership between the research base, the public sector and business with the potential to distinguish Birmingham and the West Midlands as a place where Science and Technology makes a difference to our prosperity and quality of life."