Academic Excellence

Research and Development

Birmingham has a strong research base with world class facilities and institutions to draw on. These include Aston Science Park and Birmingham Research Park; The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine; Medilink; QinetiQ; and key research centres for photonics and nanotechnology.

Science Parks in Birmingham

Aston Science Park

• Size: 9 hectares (22 acres). 400, 000 sq ft
• Tenants: 80, including Finmatica, Quality Plus Callscan, Advantage West Midlands, Civica.

Location Adjacent to Birmingham City Centre; close to the Central Technology Belt and 8 miles from Birmingham International Airport.  Direct access to the A38(M), which leads to junction 6 of the M6 motorway.

Birmingham Research Park

Consists of the Institute of Research & Development and The Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Centre. The latter combines incubation units for new companies, side by side with more established businesses for greater flexibility.

• Tenants: Currently approximately 20, including Syron Ltd (surveillance and security products); UKNEQAS (research branch of NHS Trust)

Location Adjacent to Birmingham University, and a short distance from junction 6 of the M42 motorway.

Specialisms at Birmingham's universities

Aston University

• At a time when more people are entering universities than ever before, Aston has bucked the downward UK trend for attrition rates. 94% of its students are completing their courses - a figure which is in the top 10 of UK universities.
• The Aston Photonics Research Group has a well-established track record of innovation, contributing more than 400 original journal and conference papers, including a substantial portion of collaborative work with industrial and academic institutions
• Building of the new £10 million Aston Academy of Life Sciences started in March 2003. The academy will be a unique facility for biomedical research, building on the university's grade 5 research rated Neurosciences Research Institute
• Proven history of academic excellence, successfully blending leading-edge research with high quality teaching
• Alumni include: Ed Wallis, Chief Executive of PowerGen, and Graham Broom, Chief Executive of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited Industrial Forum
• Over 70% of students choose sandwich or language options, gaining valuable experience within business and commerce
• Aston is a small, industry-focussed university specialising in business, engineering, languages and life and health sciences
• Aston Business School's undergraduate business courses are the best available in the UK outside London - the School has recently been ranked third by the Times Good University Guide for 2005, jumping two places from the previous year.

University of Birmingham

• World-class University
• One of the leading research-based universities in the United Kingdom
• Teaches and undertakes research in all the major disciplines
• Has academic staff of distinction, many recognised as having international standings and leaders in their field
• Students from the University are among the most employable in the UK. The Times newspaper has ranked the institution fourth in the country with a score of 84.8% for the employability of its graduates.
• The Henry Wellcome Building of Biomolecular NMR is a £7 million laboratory complex housing the largest and most powerful instrument of its kind in the world - a superconducting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer
• The Institute of Biomedical Research at the School of Medicine cost more than £30 million to build and provides new research facilities and equipment for patient-focused scientists working on the prevention and cure of major diseases
• The University's new £16.4 million home for Sport and Exercise Sciences, which has a top 6* research rating, is due to open in 2006
• The new £11.7 million student facility complex at the University of Birmingham's medical school will provide a 450 seat lecture theatre, small group teaching rooms, and a much-needed common room to create an enhanced teaching and social experience
• The University of Birmingham's Medical School has created a Professional Development Centre response to a demand for dedicated CPD facilities. The £1 million development has been funded in partnership with the West Midlands Deanery for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education and the Birmingham Women's Hospital NHS Trust, and provides state of the art facilities for the development of training and education needs in the field of CPD
• Birmingham medical school has a strong track record and extensive experience in providing and managing clinical learning involving 56 general practices, 9 district general and 5 specialty, teaching hospitals
• The University has been ranked fifth in the latest national research league table, for national and international research activity

Birmingham City University

• With over 24,000 students, it is one of the largest universities in the UK
• Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) at the university is one of the largest faculties of art, design and media education in the UK. It includes the renowned School of Jewellery, in the city's famous Jewellery Quarter
• The faculty of Health and Community Care is one of the largest higher education non-medical health care centres in the country
• Birmingham Conservatoire is recognised as one of the most prestigious national colleges of music centring on performance and composition
• Research at the Business School is focussed around the Enterprise Research and Development Centre. Staff undertake research into fields involving small and medium-sized enterprises and associated policy initiatives
• The Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), is based at the celebrated Millennium Point. A faculty of the univeristy, it provides cutting edge resources and specialised knowledge to meet the demands of 21st Century business.

Key regional organisations

• CERAM
  CERAM Research is an internationally renowned centre of technical excellence for the ceramics and other materials-based industries. They have been operating from their site in Stoke-on-Trent since 1948 and currently have £7 million of equipment to draw on
  
  A staff of some 200 highly experienced professionals provides the depth of services, which are essential to the success of manufacturing industry. These range from simple testing of products and materials to assistance with developing new products or refining or introducing process technology.
  
  
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
  Dstl was formed on 2 July 2001 and houses the largest number of scientists and engineers now in public service. It comprises all the defence laboratories and capabilities retained within government from Dstl's forerunner organisation, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  
  Dstl is a new name to cover the key scientific research conducted at eminent locations such as Farnborough, Porton Down and Malvern, Worcestershire, and has been part of Britain's national heritage for decades.
  
  With a tradition of outstanding research and analysis that has been the beating heart of the UK defence system for over a century, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as its trusted adviser on defence related science and technology.
  
  
• MIRA
  MIRA is a leading independent provider of engineering development & research services to the worldwide automotive industry. MIRA is the premier independent centre of excellence for development, research, test and information, providing integrated engineering consultancy services.
  
  MIRA employs over 500 staff, which includes 350 qualified scientists and engineers, working within over 30 laboratories.. Their 700-acre proving ground includes over 50 miles of test tracks and special surfaces.
  
  
• QinetiQ
  QinetiQ is the new science and technology powerhouse formed from the major part of DERA, the British Government's elite defence research and development organisation. Being Europe's largest science and technology organisation QinetiQ has an unrivalled track record in applied science and technology, it is poised to become a world leading business solutions provider.
  
  
• Rapra Technology Ltd
  Rapra is an international organisation with over 80 years of experience providing industry with technology, information and consultancy on all aspects of rubber and plastics.
  
  Rapra operates from two sites in the UK, with its Head office in Shawbury, Shropshire. It deals with 5,000 clients around the globe each year and employs 130 staff in total. The company is also involved in developing and managing major innovative multi-client research projects.
  
  Their facilities include over 7,500 sq metres of laboratory and production space and an Information Centre, which maintains and develops the World’s most comprehensive source of commercial and technical information on rubber and plastics.
  
  
• Royal Centre for Defence Medicine
  The centre provides secondary and specialist care for members of the armed forces, dedicated training for defence personnel and is a focus for medical research and is based at Selly Oak Hospital.

top of page

add to print cart | view print cart