Activity Proposals Raising productivity through smart use of technology

Activity Proposals: Raising productivity through smart use of technology and knowledge Activities Critical mass in current areas of strength Key components Advanced manufacturing technologies Illustrative actions Further strengthen, and encourage collaboration between, the Manufacturing Research Centres at Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick Promote the Midlands as a world centre for expertise in advanced manufacturing processes and supporting services Timescales and priorities Short/medium term High priority – existing collaboration could be further encouraged Medium/long term - recognising that capacity will need to be developed in Midlands firms, which will increasingly need to focus on the high skills/high value aspects of the manufacturing value chain Medium/long term Medium priority Regional & Government roles Funding from regional agencies and Government is needed to build capacity in these centres Government’s overseas activities can raise awareness of Midlands excellence in advanced manufacturing services and processes Transport technologies Promote stronger links between private and public sector R&D in transport (road, rail, air) Identify opportunities for advanced applications in the Midlands (eg integrated traffic management systems) Build on our engineering and consultancy and process strengths in the rail industry Support international links in fuel cells R&D with potential for commercial application Need for coordinated funding and other support from regional agencies (eg through Science Councils) and Government (eg third leg funding of universities) Fuel cells/energy efficiency Medium/long term High priority (very big international markets combined with regional priority for energy efficiency) Short term – building on the existing Medici programme High priority Research funding and fiscal changes by Government could stimulate R&D and commercialisation Health and medical technologies Support the further development of the medical technologies cluster across both Midlands regions and beyond Regional agencies to continue existing collaboration More flexibility to use procurement in the NHS to stimulate innovation would support commercialisation in this area 1 Activities Key components Environmental remediation technologies Illustrative actions Develop a coordinated international marketing effort between the Midlands and the Northern Way, with respect to the specialist expertise in both public and private sector organisations in remediation technologies Timescales and priorities Short/medium term Medium/high priority Regional & Government roles Overseas marketing by the regions and Government agencies should focus on this area of expertise, which has huge potential for application in countries such as China An increase in Government funding for applied research in this and other areas of excellence would reinforce the support provided within the Midlands Joint support from Science Councils and Government funding for research could influence collaboration across traditional boundaries, but likely to be largely demand driven (eg by NHS) Regional agency role Serious gaming Promote research to examine opportunities to apply regional expertise in the development of software for computer games to other technology areas – eg in medical and health technologies Support cross regional collaboration between agricultural research centres in the Midlands Promote Midlands brewing expertise Establish a cross regional foresighting group to examine long term technology trends and market opportunities for the Midlands Identify specific areas in which the two newly established Midlands Science Councils can jointly promote R&D in areas of pan regional strength and opportunity Promote procurement from Midlands firms by the regional NHS Develop Midlands-wide collaboration over local procurement policies and initiatives – particularly in relation to Medium/long term opportunity Medium priority Land based industries Short/medium term Medium/low priority Anticipating new technological opportunities and demands Midlands Foresighting Short/medium term action to secure long term benefits Medium/low priority Essentially a regional scale responsibility, though need for continued Government support for foresighting activities at regional level Need for the RDAs to encourage the two Science Councils to collaborate, to establish practice at early stage in their development Current opportunity to influence NHS purchasing needs to be taken As above, for local authority purchasing. Collaboration between the Science Councils Short/medium term High priority Public procurement NHS procurement Short/medium term High priority Short/medium term Medium priority Local authority procurement 2 Activities Key components Illustrative actions cross regional priorities (increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, reducing carbon emissions, etc) Timescales and priorities Regional & Government roles Developing and retaining expertise and skills Improve and diversify skills for regeneration Capitalise on the achievements of the Regeneration Centres of Excellence and establish a National Skills Centre in Birmingham Identify specific gaps in regional capacity to develop and exploit technological strengths, and support measures to fill those gaps Support company redeployment programmes which enable science and engineering skills to be kept in the Midlands workforce National Skills Centre – immediate Regeneration Centres - ongoing On going, short medium term High/medium priority Support the bid for the National Skills Centre to be based in Birmingham Local/regional responsibility, though Government guidance for LSCs has a big influence on availability of funding for specific initiatives at regional/local scale As above Releasing skills blockages to technology exploitation Redeployment initiatives Short/medium term High/medium priority 3 Activities Knowledge brokerage Key components Training knowledge brokers Illustrative actions Develop a Smart Growth scheme to train people who work at the interface between the research, education and business communities Promote the Midlands as the best place in Europe to turn knowledge into products, based on its industrial heritage and current expertise in design and prototyping Secure sign up of all public institutions to promoting an agreed list of regional priorities (eg increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, reducing carbon emissions) through procurement practices Support further development of business angel networks and VC funds within the Midlands, recognising that the private sector does not recognise administrative boundaries In the long term, the regional stock exchange, currently virtual, could extend activity across the whole Midlands Timescales and priorities Short/medium term Medium priority Regional & Government roles Action may be best taken through university networks, with funding from region External knowledge brokerage links Medium/long term Medium priority Coordinated actions by universities, research institutes, regional and national marketing efforts Local/regional scale actions can be supported by agreement from Government about flexibility in procurement practices Public procurement Use public procurement and Midlands scale to access knowledge for regional priorities Short/medium term High priority Access to finance Promote access to capital through support for business angels networks, regional VC funds and regional stock exchange Short/medium term Medium priority Regional/local initiative Long term Medium priority 4 Activity Proposals: Developing International gateways and linkages Activities Transport and communications Key components Develop the growth potential of the main Midlands airports – Birmingham and Nottingham East Midlands – in complementary ways Illustrative actions Support plans to develop both airports to achieve their potential as identified in the Airports White Paper Timescales and priorities Growth will be gradual over a long timescale, main impact is likely to be long term. High priority Regional & Government roles Airport authorities to play lead role, but they will need sustained support from regional organisations and Government. Government support for policies which encourage the development of scheduled flights from regional airports (eg fifth freedom rights) would be helpful Regional lobbying role Government to support Midlands case with SRA, and to prioritise improvements at road bottlenecks (eg A14 widening Huntingdon to Cambridge, A14/M6 junction improvements) Regional agencies could coordinate communities across the Midlands (eg Gujaratis in Leicester and Birmingham) No role for Government – depends on capacity to achieve scale economies in a commercial deal Regional agencies need to ensure coordinated approach. Government investment in appropriate strategic road and rail infrastructure may be necessary to ensure logistics activities are appropriately channelled Improve links to major ports, particularly to Felixstowe and the Humber Lobby for a direct rail route to Felixstowe and increased capacity on the A14 Long term in terms of implementation and impact High priority Achieve economies of scale in high capacity telecommunications Establish satellite uplink facilities with costs shared between organisations wanting to develop specific high capacity, relative low cost links – for example, between clothing designers in the Midlands and manufacturing capacity in the Indian sub continent Ensure East and West Midlands strategic plans for development of logistics facilities are complementary and exploit the opportunities presented by the Midlands location and connectivity Timescale for implementation and benefits depends on securing collaborative approach between different communities within the Midlands. Benefits likely in medium term Medium priority Ensure coordinated approach in next round of strategic plans. Benefits likely in medium to long term Medium/Low priority – lack of coordination unlikely to frustrate development of logistics functions in Midlands, but coordination should make their development more sustainable Support the sustainable development of the Midlands as a national/international logistics hub 5 Action area People and community linkages Key components Promote links between cultural groups within and beyond the Midlands Illustrative actions Promote links between communities in different parts of the Midlands Build on existing international links – mainly to countries of origin - to exploit related business opportunities -see above example Support the better integration of foreign students into local communities Support development of strong alumni organisations to maintain links between Midlands Universities and foreign students Develop a scheme to encourage retention of PhD students in the Midlands after graduation, either in employment or in continuing academic research Use overseas investments by Midlands universities to develop related business and cultural links Use research networks to build business and cultural networks Establish more twinning and other civic links with areas where business relationships may be targeted – eg in India and China Use the ICC, NEC and other facilities for international conferences, exhibitions and events as windows on the world for the Midlands Timescales and priorities Support for links should be providing in short term in order to secure longer term benefits (eg potential for economies of scale in international telecoms links) Medium priority On going development of alumni links and better integration of students. Potential for scheme to encourage retention of PhD students in short term Medium/High priority – low cost, relatively small scale, but could have some useful outcomes Regional & Government roles Local and regional agencies to take initiative Make more of overseas students and alumni Regional agencies could establish a Midlands scholarship and placements schemes for foreign PhDs, particularly in areas of skills shortages. Institutional links Support Midlands universities investing overseas Use research links Potential for short/medium term benefits Medium priority Potential for short/medium term benefits Medium priority Potential for short/medium term benefits Medium priority Short term High priority Coordination between regional agencies marketing overseas, and Midlands universities As above, but also including research institutes Role of local authorities and regional agencies Use public sector links Facilities and events as international gateways Conferences, exhibitions and events Role for facility operators, supported by regional agencies (and Government?) in sponsoring specific initiatives (eg overseas marketing) to increase international aspects of events 6 Action area Key components Sports facilities Illustrative actions Promote the use of Midlands sports facilities for major international events Timescales and priorities Medium term Medium/low priority Regional & Government roles Role for facility operators, supported by regional agencies (and Government?) in sponsoring specific initiatives (eg overseas marketing) to increase international aspects of events 7 Action Proposals: Securing Smart renaissance to create conditions for choice and growth Activities Promoting the application of know how to achieve regional priorities Key components Innovation in transport Illustrative actions Simultaneous introduction of intelligent road pricing in all Midlands cities, to overcome the ‘first mover’ disincentive. Use Transport Innovation Fund if possible to support preparation for the initiative Promote an annual Smart Growth competition for energy efficiency in various areas, including building design, manufacturing processes, and public transport, for all Midlands organisations Promote a long term goal of Zero Waste for the Midlands, and disseminate information on waste reduction initiatives by public and private sectors (eg Leicester Environment City and Toyota zero landfill policy).Use Landfill Tax programme to fund the promotion. Learn from best practice in collaborations between regions in Mainland Europe to address renaissance issues Timescales and priorities Medium term Medium priority Regional & Government roles Mainly depends on local authorities coordinating action, but Government can support through Transport Innovation Fund Role for regional level organisations to instigate coordinated action Energy efficiency Short term High priority Zero waste Medium term action, only likely to be achieved in long term High priority Effectiveness of action at local and regional scales could be greatly enhanced by fiscal encouragement for waste reduction Regional collaboration on renaissance Short/ medium term action, which could generate ideas and also demonstrate to organisations within the East and West Midlands the benefits of cross regional collaboration Medium priority A joint proposal submitted between East and West Midlands and other European partners may secure funding from the European Commission’s INTERREG Programme to support this initiative Promoting polycentricity Extension of existing initiatives (eg the Three Cities and Wolverhampton Telford) to develop complementary specialisms and greater opportunities for economic and population growth among the Midlands medium scale cities and their hinterlands Introduce a cross boundary dimension to complementary development – eg between Coventry and Leicester, Derby and Stoke, Worcester and Gloucester. Medium term Medium priority Depends on added value being perceived at regional/local scales 8 Activities Key components Increase the density of new housing development overall, whilst supporting local variations to suit differing circumstances in urban, suburban and rural locations Illustrative actions Develop evidence base to support variations in housing density requirements to fit local circumstances Timescales and priorities Short/medium term Medium priority Regional & Government roles Coordination of research effort at regional scale could be supported by Government willingness to accept appropriate density variations in plans and major appeal decisions Government support for a programme of research with a Midlands focus would provide a strong stimulus to local/regional action Regional issue Improving living environments Create better living environments in the suburbs, where most people live and seek a home Create a Midlands wide initiative to improve the quality of the suburbs to improve their attractions and capacity to retain mobile households Identify and apply good international practices Commission and publish a study of good practice in market town improvements across the Midlands Use the Regional Housing Boards, CABE, English Partnerships, the Housing Commission and local authorities to drive up standards through procurement practices, planning decisions, etc Relate planned public realm improvements in the Three Cities to those in Birmingham, Coventry and Stoke Promote a competition for (and then fund implementation of) affordable public realm improvements in the Midlands’ suburbs Link the marketing of urban and rural attractions to encourage longer stays by visitors (eg web links and joint brochures for the Space Centre and the National Forest). Introduce tariffs to replace S106 Agreements to enable planning gain to be focused on key infrastructure improvements. Short/medium term High priority Create better living environments in the Midlands market towns Drive up housing standards Short/medium term Medium/low priority Medium/long term High priority Regional/local issue, but needs continuing Government pressure and consistent actions (eg in planning guidance) in support. Improving the public realm Complementary public realm improvements for city centres Medium/long term Medium priority Short to medium term (linked to research programme for suburbs) High priority Short term High priority (simple, low cost initiative) Local/regional issue, though if national funding is provided for major schemes account should be taken to Midlands wide picture Local/regional initiative, but Government could provide support Individual attractions supported/encouraged by Regional Tourism organisations Improve the public realm in the suburbs Make better use of attractions in rural areas of the Midlands Promote recreational provision in, and use of, the National Forest Infrastructure for growth Innovative financing of infrastructure projects Short/medium/long term High priority Local action to introduce tariffs needs policy support from Government Longer term introduction of other 9 Activities Key components Illustrative actions Lobby for greater flexibility in, and decentralisation of, decision making in infrastructure investment - for example, greater flexibility in the Tasking Frame in the short term, use of the business rate in the medium term, and regional bonds in the long term. Timescales and priorities Regional & Government roles funding methods will also need Government support Midlands priorities for infrastructure improvements Identify Midlands wide priorities for infrastructure investment to facilitate cross regional movements originating and/or finishing outside the Midlands, whilst also improving the attractions of, and capacity to grow, Midlands towns and cities Support joint work between the centres of excellence for the East and West Midlands Press for the retention and expansion of renaissance related courses (eg planning, urban design) in Midlands’ universities Support the expansion of craft skills through modern apprenticeships and other means throughout the Midlands Midlanders are the greatest ambassadors for the regions. Marketing efforts that raise awareness of the character and strengths of the wide region can further build knowledge, confidence and pride in the Midlands Promote greater collaboration between existing attractions in marketing activities – eg web links, joint promotions, etc Short term action to identify priorities, long term implementation High priority Government response to east west multi modal study needed short term. Longer term, Government willingness to prioritise strategic schemes which provide combined benefits within and beyond Midlands essential Role for regional assembly and relevant universities Skills for renaissance High level skills for Renaissance Short/medium term Medium priority Craft skills for renaissance Short/medium term Medium priority Short term Medium priority Local/regional issue Midlands profile Promote the Midlands to Midlanders Regional issue, but Government organisations overseas should use the same messages about the Midlands Midlands attractions Collaboration between attractions in the Midlands Short/medium term Medium priority Local/regional issue, led by regional tourism organisations 10