The first of the Government's new Technology and Innovation Centres should be established in the West Midlands, it was claimed yesterday.

Responding to the Technology Strategy Board on a consultation into TICs, Business Voice West Midlands said such a move would boost both the region and the wider UK economy.

Noting a planned March announcement for a TIC covering high value manufacturing, Denise Craig, BVWM manufacturing policy development group chairman, said: "While areas of the UK, such as the North West, have their specialisms, it is the West Midlands that can be described as being the heart of UK manufacturing with its extensive business base in aerospace, automotive, ceramics and a score of other advanced sectors.

"It would be to the benefit of the UK economy as well as the West Midlands if this first TIC was established here."

It offered the chance to "move the economy forward and help realise the Government's objective for sustainable growth to be engendered".

But she urged the Government to go further.

"We believe there needs to be more innovative solutions to bring together universities and businesses to harness R&D and access pilot projects.

"Alongside TICs, there needs to be a service that gives practical support and guides businesses through robust new product development processes to maximise the chances of successful commercialisation."

Highlighting a Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands initiative, she went on: "The MAS-WM New Product Development programme does just this and covers all sectors, and it has been widely acknowledged as a successful scheme. Assistance of this nature is essential if targeted businesses are to streamline and improve their operations through new R&D developments and become more competitive within the global marketplace."