Last week we celebrated the launch of our new Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC) with the opening of No.1 BHIC.
Guests in the main auditorium at No.1 BHIC
BHIC sits at the heart of Birmingham’s Health & Life Sciences District, made up of the University of Birmingham and adjacent healthcare, and provides over 12,000 square metres of life sciences real estate and state-of-the-art facilities.
The official opening was a key moment in the partnership between the University of Birmingham and Bruntwood SciTech.
The entrance to No.1 BHIC
Hosted by Selly Oak MP and Minister for Veterans Alistair Carns – and with opening speeches from Chris Oglesby (Bruntwood CEO) and the University’s Professor Neil Hanley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College of Medicine and Health – the launch brought together industry, academics, clinicians and leaders from across Birmingham’s health and life sciences district, and far beyond.
Panel discussion at the launch event
We were honoured to welcome Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and Gail Marzetti, Deputy CEO of NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), who joined our expert panel alongside Bruntwood’s Director of Life Sciences Kath Mackay and CEO of The University of Birmingham’s Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA), Professor Gino Martini.
The engaging conversation went far beyond the building itself, focusing on the critical role of partnerships in driving health innovation. The panel also explored how the West Midlands Growth Plan is coming to life and the steps we are collectively taking to promote the region as a global leader in life sciences.
Guests sit on the Spanish Steps at No.1 BHIC
The event was also an opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of NIHR-funded infrastructure in Birmingham – from the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) to the HealthTech Research Centre in Devices, Digital and Robotics – who deliver life-changing clinical trials and practice-changing research day in, day out.
The evening was full of positivity and optimism regarding the potential in our region, thanks to the convening of guests who truly believe in the power of the West Midlands’ life sciences sector.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Medicine and Health
Professor Neil Hanley is Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Medicine and Health at the University of Birmingham.
