Pictured: David Hardman
The complexities in Birmingham's Knowledge Economy support
structure need to be eradicated if the city is to become a fertile
breeding ground for talent and innovative start-up businesses,
claims Dr David Hardman MBE, CEO of Birmingham Science Park
Aston.
The concept of the 'Triple Helix' collaborative unity between
the private sector, government and academia is seen as essential
and Dr Hardman believes the Science Park needs to be the neutral
focal point of Birmingham's innovation agenda.
In order to drive change and deliver greater success amongst
Birmingham's entrepreneurial community, Birmingham Science Park
Aston is creating the 'Birmingham 2050 Forum'. This will be a
think-tank of successful emerging and established business leaders
who will meet to spotlight issues and identify how barriers can be
broken down to deliver a step-change in the level of new
entrepreneurial activity that takes place in Birmingham.
David Hardman comments: "Birmingham's support for its
entrepreneurial community is not making headway because it is too
complex and too fragmented, and as a consequence efforts are being
diluted. We need to start doing something different so as to make
available resources readily accessible and use the strengths of
this legacy as the foundations for new growth.
"By creating the Birmingham 2050 Forum, we want to engage
successful and established business leaders in the future of this
city. We want to energise them - in association with emerging
leaders - as a united force into giving something back and making a
difference to the future economy of Birmingham. This doesn't need
to be a time onerous commitment, far from it. We are simply looking
to stimulate fresh thinking through informed debate, augmenting
ideas from local people who have created successful businesses and
know what needs to happen to help to create many more.
"Using the Science Park's video technologies, we will further
add to the debate with input from global entrepreneurs. But action
must follow the thoughts, so we propose establishing a group of
senior 'delivers' who will run with the ideas.
"We want to gather suggestions as to who we can invite to the
inaugural 2050 Forum meeting. We need to get talking to the
region's highly impressive industry leaders and entrepreneurs
across all sectors and explain the concept. Ultimately, this is
about Birmingham working as a union and using the knowledge it
already has to unearth and support the potential wealth creators of
the future."
David Hardman continued: "There is a concerning lack of
preparedness for the new economies, which needs to be addressed. My
vision is that once established, the Birmingham 2050 Forum will
identify a roadmap to help ensure Birmingham is a truly global city
in 2050. It will engage with all elements of the Triple Helix and
work to inform the Local Enterprise Partnership board. This is all
about recognising what needs to be done to make a difference and
channelling the very limited pool of resources available in this
economic climate in the right way.
"By placing Birmingham Science Park Aston at the centre of the
city's innovation agenda, the Park would work with all like-minded
agencies and organisations to deliver objectives prescribed by the
Birmingham 2050 Forum. The Forum is one of the elements the Science
Park is looking to put into place as part of a holistic offering to
stimulate, attract and retain talent; the lifeblood of the new
economies."
If you would like to nominate yourself or a business contact for
the Birmingham 2050 Forum, please email David Hardman at
davidh@bsp-a.com.