Case Study

Ideopolis: knowledge city-regions - Birmingham case study explores Birmingham’s strengths, challenges and opportunities within the framework of the nine Ideopolis drivers. It makes policy recommendations and shows what othercities can learn from Birmingham’s experience.

Key findings include:

• Physical knowledge city: In the past twenty years, £9 billion has been spent on regenerating the city, particularly the city centre.
• Building on what’s there: The first four-wheeled petrol driven car was built in Birmingham. However, with the closure of Longbridge last year, there are concerns that Birmingham will no longer be able to rely on the motor manufacturing industry.
• High skill organisations: Birmingham’s working age population has lower skill levels than the UK average, but the city does have an average proportion of high-skill occupations.
• Vibrant education sector: Birmingham has a strong, research-intensive university sector. But, like other cities, it suffers from stark polarisation in educational outcomes from different communities – this is a major challenge.
• Leadership around a knowledge city vision: Birmingham City Council is a leader in the integration of decision-making at city-region level.