Issue - meetings

(1)      The direction proposed by the Innovation Board for the £33m West Midlands Innovation Accelerator and the process proposed to reach final decisions in Winter 2022 was endorsed.

(2)      The direction of the draft business plan was agreed, with the first-stage

submitted in conjunction with the Chair of the Innovation Board.

The board considered a report from the Executive Director of Economic Delivery, Skills & Communities on the progress made on the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, overseen by the West Midlands Innovation Board.

Announced in the Levelling-Up White Paper, the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator would see around £33m invested in the region over the next three years to bolster the region’s innovation and research & development capability and capacity to spark commercial growth and investment.

The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that existing pockets of excellence within the region were engaged with this work, particularly in respect of CleanTech and Modern Methods of Construction. Mike Wright (West Midlands Innovation Board) supported this, stressing the importance of recognising where excellence already existed. Councillor Peter Hughes noted the CleanTech workshop held on 29 June and enquired as to the level of interest this had generated. Mike Wright reported that attendance had been very good, with 60 delegates in attendance and more joining online. He undertook to send a list of delegates to Councillor Peter Hughes.

Resolved:

(1)      The direction proposed by the West Midlands Innovation Board for the £33m West Midlands Innovation Accelerator and the process proposed to reach final decisions in Winter 2022 be endorsed.

(2)      The direction of the draft business plan be agreed, with the first stage submitted in conjunction with the Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board.