After more than a century, the University of Birmingham remains committed to national and global influence while rooted in the heart of Birmingham and the city's current wave of development.
Our recent nomination for the GBCC Awards 2020 in the category of 'Excellence in International Business' acknowledges our commitment to global impact and world-class research, supported by brilliant people, outstanding facilities and secure collaborative networks.
Our team in Business Engagement works collaboratively with leading local and international partners, such as the West Midlands Combined Authority, Citizens UK, Cancer Research UK, Business in the Community, Rolls Royce, KPMG, Jaguar Land Rover, HSBC. These partnerships allow us to tackle big societal, technological and economic questions and put our vision for world-leading research and education into action.
The University has also established the Institute for Global Innovation, to inspire, support and deliver world-leading, multidisciplinary research that addresses the world's most pressing challenges. Focus areas for the IGI include resilient cities, water challenges in a changing world, gender inequality and environmental pollution solutions.
Closer to home, the City Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) uses the University's understanding of city regions to develop policy and inform and influences regional and national economic growth policies.
Three key developments for the next three years:
- In 2021, we will open The Exchange, an historic building in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, to allow us to increase our engagement with Birmingham's communities and stakeholders. A hub for culture, public engagement, student entrepreneurship, and policy and leadership activity; The Exchange will further strengthen our capacity to deliver our civic goals.
- In 2022, we will open the Life Sciences Park, to deliver the full circle of translational medicine, from drug development to real-world studies, to promote healthy living through maintaining the quality of life and developing new treatments for disease. The Birmingham Life Sciences Park will align with the broader life sciences expertise and infrastructure across the West Midlands and help establish Birmingham as a leading economic hub for life sciences.
- At Tyseley Energy Park, we will build an innovation hub that will provide businesses with the chance to develop their technology in collaboration with university staff at the energy park. This hub will be a centre for training associated with state-of-the-art energy, waste and low-carbon transport systems, showcasing Birmingham at the centre of the global energy revolution.
Wherever you look, you'll find Birmingham at the centre - delivering our civic mission and growing our global footprint.
Winners of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Awards will be announced on Thursday 19 March 2020 at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards.