John Latham

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John Latham

• Coventry University Enterprises Ltd

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West Midlands Regional Innovation Strategy

• Outcomes and future actions

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RIS Objectives 1996-99

• Provide baseline data upon the levels of
  innovation within the regions business sectors
• Make a series of strategic recommendations
  designed to help increase regional innovation
  activity
• Close the gap in productivity with the UK (and
  European) average

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RIS Outcomes

• Regional Innovation Strategy Document
• 20 point action plan under four cornerstones
• Exploit and improve regional capability via
  on-going review of sectors, research and
  technology
• Catalyse collaborative innovation activity via
  business networks and networking between the
  science base and industry
• Increase investment in research, development and
  design equipment skills and training
• Enhance innovation culture and spread good
  practice.

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RIS Objectives

• To begin the implementation of RIS
  recommendations and set up pilot projects and
  pilot networks
• To continue the study of sectoral needs and
  trends and economic/innovation analysis in the
  region
• To share and exchange ideas and good practice
  with comparable RIS/RITTS regions elsewhere

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Methodology

• Research into the sectoral needs and trends
  within the region
• Delivery of pilot projects aimed at improving the
  innovation capabilities within the regions SME
  base
• Exchange of best practice with comparable regions
  (particularly with Finnish and Swedish regions)
• 8 working groups called business growth task
  groups

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Objective 1 - pilots

• WM Investment Fund (Advantage Technology Fund)
• The establishment of a funding mechanism to make
  available relatively small amounts of capital
  investment to stimulate the creation of
  innovative, technology based, high growth
  potential SMEs within the region.
• 8 deals completed, 4.9m invested, 30 jobs
  forecast

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Objective 1 - pilots

• Coventry Warwickshire Enterprise Fellowship
  Scheme
• The Scheme aim was to establish 21 Fellowships
  over the next two years to increase the formation
  of spin off companies particularly from the
  academic knowledge base.
• Additional funding was secured to roll out the
  programme to the whole of the West Midlands in
  2002 as a result of the successful pilot.
• 13 fellows, 31 jobs created, 8 start up companies
  created

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Objective 1 - pilots

• Regional Foresight (FORENSIC)
• The creation of a new approach for West Midlands
  SMEs to anticipate and prepare for the future and
  stay ahead of the competition
• Directly concerned with Scenario Planning and
  developing visions of the future in the regions
  key economic sectors
• Non-discriminatory access to the foresight
  process for small and large companies alike.
• 2256 SMEs assisted, 384 SMEs at seminars, 61 SMEs
  improved

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Objective 1 - pilots

• WM Regional ePortal
• The e-Portal provides an electronic open door for
  the region.
• It supports the task of developing regional SME
  networks and partnerships.
• The second phase will concentrate on added
  functionality, showcasing new technology and
  developing further links with other initiatives
  in WM.
• 250 SMEs advised, 5 jobs created, 3-4000 hits per
  month

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Objective 1 - pilots

• MONTAGE
• Meeting Organisations Needs Through Audits,
  Grants and Exploration
• Innovation and technology identification through
  technology/innovation audits
• Technology stats through a Technology Watch
  service
• RTD stimulation through grants and access to
  finance
• 258 jobs created, 584 SMEs assisted, 43 grants
  approved, 42 products developed, 44 new processes
  developed

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Objective 1 additional activity

• Partner programmes emerging from the growing
  culture of innovation
• CONTACT Universities working with Business
• Collaborative project between all WM HEIs
• Mercia Institute of Enterprise
• Entrepreneurship training and techology transfer
• Mercia Spinner
• IP identification, management and spin out
  company formation from WM HEIs
• Connect Midlands
• Linking new firms to sources of finance

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Objective Two - research

• Creation of Regional Innovation and
  Competitiveness Observatory
• Seven research reports
• Developments in the Automotive Industry
  2000-2015
• The e-commerce revolution and its impact on
  firms, premises and location in the West
  Midlands
• The Development of Nanotechnology
• Innovation in the Medical Devices/Supplies
  Industry
• Urban-Rural Interdependencies, Policy and
  Innovation
• A Baseline Study of E-Business in the Region
• A study of Techno Based Entertainment and
  Tourism.

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Objective Three - exchanges

• Study tours to exceptional innovative regions to
  exchange ideas
• Senior group of WM partners exchange of best
  practice visit to Finland and Sweden
• IRE and RITTS meetings and conferences
• West Midlands leading the thematic network SAIL
  on innovative academic and industrial
  co-operation.

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Mainstreaming the RIS

• RIS research influenced mainstream economic
  strategy directions
• Development of Clusters based on original BGTGs
• Market facing groupings
• Action plans led by private sector
• Innovation as cross-cutting theme of action plans
• Engagement with knowledge base
• Networking for competitive advantage

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The cluster model
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The 10 clusters

• Building Technologies
• Transport Technologies
• Environmental Technologies
• Medical Technologies
• Specialist Business Services
• ICT
• New Media
• High Value Added Consumer Products
• Food and Drink
• Tourism and Leisure

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High Technology Corridors

• Telford / Wolverhampton Corridor
• Birmingham/Worcester Corridor
• The Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire Triangle

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Regeneration Zones

• North Staffordshire
• Marches
• North Black Country South Staffordshire
• West Birmingham South Black Country
• East Birmingham North Solihull
• Coventry Nuneaton

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Key lessons and future actions

• Success has been in our ability to engage all
  sections of the business, support and knowledge
  communities
• Extending this further into voluntary and
  community partnerships will be a priority for the
  future.
• E-portal as dissemination mechanism for research,
  ongoing and future projects to ensure sharing of
  best practice
• Currently being developed is a proposal for the
  Regional Innovative Actions Programme.
• Critical evaluation of RIS and RIS by June 2002.