University News Last updated 16 August 2016
Formed in the context of a changing Europe and a growing regional renaissance in the UK’s West Midlands, Birmingham City University and the Fraunhofer Society have announced a strategic partnership to deliver a new model of research innovation.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the UK university and German organisation was signed on Wednesday 17 August, which will see the partners work together to advance their relationship in international research cooperation, technology and innovation transfer, commercialisation and training across a range of sectors.
This groundbreaking initiative builds on the recent development of a number of significant projects where Birmingham City University is playing a leading role, including STEAMHouse, the Birmingham Knowledge Hub, the newly formed West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) and the launch of the six-strong Midlands Enterprise Universities.
Employing more than 24,000 staff, Fraunhofer is Europe‘s largest organisation for applied research, with efforts geared entirely towards human needs: health, security, communication, energy and the environment.
The international and interdisciplinary team of experts at the Leipzig-based Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy (IMW), combines its economic, social, political and cultural scientific expertise to answer questions relating to knowledge and technology transfer, corporate development in international competition, sustainability management and infrastructure economics.
As part of the partnership signed today, this international capability will be married with Birmingham City University‘s applied research strengths across the creative industries, social sciences, architecture and urban development, transport and mobility, cyber security and digital technologies, among others.
Building on Birmingham City University‘s extensive engagement with business and well-established track record of collaborative working, the partnership will leverage Fraunhofer’s expertise in technology transfer and commercialisation, the development of creative spaces and applied research.
STEAMHouse
Earlier this year, the UK Government announced that it will be contributing £14 million to help transform the former Typhoo tea factory in Birmingham into a collaborative innovation centre – STEAMHouse – for solving the challenges facing SMEs in the West Midlands region.
Forming part of STEAMhouse, the Birmingham City University-Fraunhofer IMW partnership will deliver a new model of pan-regional innovation, build research excellence and create a platform for international market development.
Professor Dr. Thorsten Posselt, Director of the Fraunhofer Center for International Management a
nd Knowledge Economy, said:
“We know how technology development and transfer work. As an integral part of Fraunhofer, our practically-oriented research and our solutions are always focused on finding solutions for specific problems in business, politics and society. Together with our partners we aim to identify, to tap new markets and to ensure the competitiveness of German and European companies.”
Redpill Group
In a parallel agreement, Fraunhofer IMW will also enter into a partnership with smart city and innovation leaders, Redpill Group, who have spearheaded the development of the Birmingham City University-Fraunhofer IMW partnership.
As strategy consultants and innovators in urban technologies, Fraunhofer and Redpill will work together internationally to incubate, build and support new companies and accelerate their growth in global markets.
Redpill will engage Fraunhofer’s capabilities to support technology innovation and enterprise, developing new products and services applied specifically to citizen-centric smart city projects. Fraunhofer IMW and Redpill will work closely together to create new markets, open up commercial opportunities and drive new business creation.
Dr Robin Daniels, Managing Director of Redpill Group, said:
“The decision by the UK to leave the European Union has sent shock waves through the British and European research and innovation community. Amid the uncertainty that has followed it is more important than ever to forge new partnerships, to raise the bar and to deliver even greater value to our clients and partners.
“The new partnerships that will result from this announcement will do just that and we’re delighted to not only have driven and closed these agreements, but also to be an active party in taking them forward to Europe and the world.”
All parties expect that formal partnership agreements will be completed by October 2016.