The following is a response from Advantage West Midlands in support of the role of Science and Discovery Centres.

  1.  Birmingham is one of six cities designated as a "Science City" by the Chancellor in 2004-05. Advantage West Midlands, as the Regional Development Agency, is leading on turning this designation into action that will make a difference. ThinkTank at Millenium Point is playing a key part in this activity. The vision is that:

"Birmingham Science City will develop and use science and technology to improve the prosperity and quality of life of the city-region, the West Midlands and the UK".

  2.  To make the vision a reality, Birmingham Science City will:

—  draw on the strengths of the region's top-class universities, as well as other key research facilities within the region;

—  through activity such as sourcing new technology and working closely with businesses and public sector clients, help achieve improved prosperity and quality of life;

—  make the initiative not just a short set of projects but a long-term vision that will contribute to the region's economy and people's quality of life;

—  ensure that the focus of activity is on the city-region but also recognise that there are significant strengths in the rest of the region and that Science City can meet the needs of businesses and the public-sector in the rest of the West Midlands;

—  promote knowledge exchange among colleges, schools and other learning organisations, so that there is better access to skills by the science and technology community; and

—  raise the profile of our strengths and expertise so that we demonstrate the value of locating in the West Midlands to start-ups, growing businesses, inward investors and public sector bodies.

  3.  We have chosen five key areas for action, namely:

—    Research Base: The aim is to achieve world-class critical mass, with a focus on application research including joint research with businesses of all sizes. Collaboration with partners outside the region will be needed and development of international networks, especially in Europe, will lead to greater access to the best science and technology.

—    Knowledge Transfer: The development of more effective knowledge transfer between the science and technology base and companies of all sizes and the public sector, and vice versa. This will help solve problems and develop opportunities in designing both products and processes.

—    People/Skills Base: Developing the people/skills base to meet the current and future needs of the economy and, especially, the target sectors. This will include stimulating demand from employers to raise skills levels that can underpin the development of a competitive and sustainable knowledge economy. As part of this the quality of science and technology education must be prioritised in schools, colleges and higher education.

—    Understanding of Science: Developing an understanding of science across the population is a formidable task. Birmingham Science City will develop projects to encourage more young people to see the value of science and technology, so that they choose to study these subjects and consider taking up a related career.

—    Demonstrator and Flagship Projects :These projects can help deliver the vision and promote Birmingham as the hub of a science and technology-rich region. Flagship-type activities are likely to need investment in physical infrastructure but could give a strong physical reality to Science City. Examples are the development of strategic sites for science and technology parks. Flagships are particularly likely to build the people/skills base.

  4.  Think Tank (at Millenium Point) as the West Midlands Science Centre is playing a key role in leading a working group to develop the actions around engagement of young people with science. It serves as a helpful iconic focus for the range of school activities designed to motivate young people to study science related subjects. We have helped catalyse stronger links between the ThinkTank, the regional Science Learning Centre at Keele and the regional Setpoint activity in an attempt to coordinate what can be disparate activity.

  5.  Science Centres are a strong asset in the tourism and attractions market-place. and serve a valuable role in engaging whole families as well as children with the benefits and value of studying STEM subjects. The researched and proven impact of museums and Science Centres is long term and cross-cultural.

  6.  They can do what the school classroom cannot do on its own, both in terms of facilities and working demonstrations, but also in helping parents and carers to learn alongside the young person and be able to understand some of the big impacts that science can have on global problems and in providing exciting new products.

  7.  The West Midlands desperately needs more highly skilled people who are motivated to develop STEM skills so that businesses can start, grow and locate in the region so that more wealth can be generated in the region. Our Science Centre is playing its part in the long term development of these skills and adequate funding from those bodies who focus on young peoples skills is vital for the future economic well being of the region.

  8.  Advantage West Midlands is therefore very supportive of the concept of Science Centres and is keen to see them funded well, particularly to bring about more coordinated regional activity that can certainly improve the quality of experience but also potentially improve the economic efficiency of the many individual activities carried out in schools and colleges.

June 2007