Creating connections in the West Midlands

Speaking at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in July, the Prime Minister set out the Government’s agenda to ‘level up’ the country and ‘close the gap’ between London and other cities across the UK. As part of this agenda, the Government has created the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement to help upgrade regional transport systems to be as integrated as London’s.

As the National Academy for Sciences, the Royal Society is aware of and has published broadly on the transformative potential of well-governed data use, from research and innovation to improving public services. In this session, chaired by Ed Humpherson (Director General for Regulation, UK Statistics Authority), the Royal Society will look at the links between data and the levelling up agenda, focusing on the area of transport. It will be bringing together industry leaders, academics, and policymakers to discuss how the availability and use of data can help level up transport networks across the UK. Is there equal access to, and use of, data resources for transport systems across the UK? What case studies are there from across the West Midlands? What policies need to be in place at a local, regional, and national level?

Sign up information: Please RSVP to Industry@royalsociety.org.

If we are to secure a greener future, then it is crucial that our workforce is fully equipped with a broad range of ‘green skills’ and knowledge. This workshop – split into two sessions and aimed at teachers, school leaders, industry members and academics – will explore the current shape of climate education, the ‘green skills’ gap and how we can future-proof the skills pipeline by forming lasting partnerships between schools, industry and universities. Attendees will be given the opportunity to discuss and debate ways to level-up climate education, whilst also learning about Royal Society initiatives which engage students in climate-related activities.

For enquiries please email Industry@royalsociety.org.

The emergence of COVID-19 has rapidly and radically shifted many aspects of life and business, but what has been the impact on the Royal Society’s publishing operation? How have we as an organisation responded to the challenges of COVID-19? Join members of the Royal Society’s publishing team for a talk and Q&A on these aspects of our work, and some of our future plans. We’ll discuss the experience of rapid peer review, our launch of new journal sections, and our moves to make research more open.

For enquiries please email Industry@royalsociety.org.

If we are to secure a greener future, then it is crucial that our workforce is fully equipped with a broad range of ‘green skills’ and knowledge. This workshop – split into two sessions and aimed at teachers, school leaders, industry members and academics – will explore the current shape of climate education, the ‘green skills’ gap and how we can future-proof the skills pipeline by forming lasting partnerships between schools, industry and universities. Attendees will be given the opportunity to discuss and debate ways to level-up climate education, whilst also learning about Royal Society initiatives which engage students in climate-related activities.

For enquiries please email Industry@royalsociety.org.

European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) have been an effective mechanism for growing research and innovation capacity across the UK, leaving a visible footprint in Coventry and the wider region. Having exited the EU, the UK is left with a choice about how to replace this funding, with the Government committing to match the amount received from ESIF at a national level through domestic funding schemes. Further detail on the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and other programmes is promised in the Government’s forthcoming Levelling-up White Paper.

This roundtable is an opportunity to reflect on the efficacy of ESIF in the context of what comes next. Which aspects of ESIF programmes such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) worked well? What were the downsides? And what lessons should we take from ESIF as the Government develops new schemes to address geographical disparity in the UK’s capacity for research and innovation?

The meeting will bring together the region's representatives from universities, industry and local government and will help to inform the Royal Society’s policy work around Place and Levelling-up.

For enquiries please email Industry@royalsociety.org.

The Industry leaders' dinner will take place at a nearby location.

Business leaders and Fellows of the Royal Society will discuss the scientific and industrial landscape in the West Midlands focusing on topics critical to the successful application of science for societal and economic benefit.

For more information, please email industry@royalsociety.org