1. HUCBMS Annual Conference 2016 Enabling Innovation to Improve the International Competitiveness of the Midlands Engine Michael Carr PVC Employer and Economic Engagement 7 September 2016 1

2. Midlands Engine is… A UK Government promotional brand –Aligned with Northern Powerhouse and other regions –“Umbrella” for regional investment –Based on £34bn growth by 2030 and 300k new jobs by 2020 –Layer of the emerging devolution landscape –Midlands Engine –Combined Authorities –LEPs –Local Authorities Still emerging as a proposition –Bottom-up development –No rule book –Government continued support presumed 2

3. Midlands Engine is also… An opportunity for Midlands stakeholders to work collaboratively to improve the regional economy –Successor to the previous Midlands Way initiative –Focused on perceived regional strengths A prospectus launched in December 2015 with following themes: –Promoting the Midlands Engine –Midlands Connect –Innovation –Finance for Business –Skills –Economic Planning –Supply Chain 3

4. Promoting the Midlands Engine 4 Planned Activity Adopting a wide-ranging approach to promotion Targeting promotion on key markets and industries Working with UKTI to bring investable sites to market Building a regional business visitor and tourism offer Promoting the Midlands Engine airports as key gateways to the UK Building new partnerships

5. Promoting the Midlands Engine 5 Progress £5m joint investment with UKTI Midlands Engine Pitch-book Midlands Engine Investment Hub proposition Evolving trade mission programme, commencing in China in November 2016 Evolving Midlands visitor economy offer Focus on sectoral strengths at a regional level with innovation at its heart Links to all other Midlands Engine themes

6. Innovation 6 Planned Activity Evolving the key sectors of the Midlands Engine to improve international competitiveness, based on: -Manufacturing, Engineering and Transport Technologies -Agri-food and drink manufacturing and production -Healthcare, Life Sciences and Translational Medicine -Energy and Low Carbon Technologies -Creative, Digital and Design Sector Creating a stronger network of science parks and innovation centres Enhancing the exploitation of our assets Creating a Higher Education Forum

7. Innovation 7 Progress £60m Energy Research Accelerator Midlands-wide Science and Industry Audit -Draft report in circulation Industry-led Innovation theme group evolving HE Forum in its infancy -Midlands Innovation -Midlands Enterprise Universities Potential propositions being developed -Transport technology -Enterprise support, linked to science parks

8. Innovation Landscape 8 Not easy to navigate as much flux Brexit and FP9/ESIF UK Industrial strategy HE White paper UKRI Increased sectoral prioritisation Focus on impact Devolved funding landscape Loans v. grants

9. International Innovation 9 UK must maintain its reputation for invention UK needs to continue to innovate in the UK through investment in and protection of R&D Innovation needs to be the basis of inward investment and exporting opportunities Universities must integrate directly with businesses and other employers Universities need to focus their asks on the priorities of public funders Universities need to be conscious of changing landscape and engage agilely with each devolved level that matches their priorities Universities need to operate more collaboratively at sectoral and regional level

10. Questions 10 Enabling Innovation to Improve the International Competitiveness of the Midlands Engine Michael Carr PVC Employer and Economic Engagement Nottingham Trent University Nottingham NG1 4BU Tel: 07342 066 873 Email: Michael.carr@ntu.ac.uk