Italian city of Turin pips West Midlands region to international innovation award

The region was named in a shortlist of three for the award, which also included Espoo in Finland, and will instead receive around £80,000.

West Midlands Combined Authority Mayor Richard Parker flew out for an awards ceremony in Lisbon on Wednesday November 13, which saw Turin take the top prize. Portuguese city of Braga was named as the "European Rising Innovative City" and took home around £370,000.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “It is fantastic that the West Midlands has been recognised as one of Europe’s most innovative regions. It has brought entrepreneurial talent and academic excellence together in a way that will be pivotal to driving the economic growth and transformation Britain needs. I am proud that this Government is supporting the cutting-edge work that’s happening here, through new funding announced at the Budget.

“This region is a great example of how regional mayors, leading businesses, and our world-class universities can boost their local communities and economies, when they work together and in partnership with Government to reap the benefits of science and technology. This is only the start for the West Midlands.”

Dean Cook, executive director of place at Innovate UK, said: “Innovate UK on behalf of UKRI is proud to have supported the West Midland’s innovation journey through the Innovation Accelerator programme and our joint Local Action Plan.

“Working in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority, we have fostered ground-breaking ideas and technologies from business that will shape the future of the region and beyond. Being named a runner up in the European Capital of Innovation award is a testament to the region’s thriving innovation ecosystem.”

The European Capital of Innovation Awards are delivered as part of Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, to which the UK is associated. Horizon Europe is the largest research collaboration programme in the world, worth over £80 billion.

Researchers, innovators and businesses from across the West Midlands can apply for funding grants that will help researchers fund projects across all sectors from health, to clean energy, to digital infrastructure. £356 million worth of grants were awarded to projects in the West Midlands under Horizon’s predecessor, Horizon 2020.

Mike Wright, chairman of the West Midlands Innovation Board, said: “Being named as one of three finalists in this year's European iCap competition is a tremendous testament to the incredible work happening across the Birmingham and West Midlands innovation ecosystem.

“It reflects not only the region's growing innovation and R&D impact across a number of emerging clusters but also leveraging the diversity of the region. It is a recognition of our competitive standing across Europe and will hopefully accelerate even more activity, investment and business growth in innovation and R&D across the region.”