Birmingham Science City gave a clear demonstration of the Midlands region’s leading role in UK energy efficiency research with the launch on 11th December 2009 of a £10.5 million research programme in energy efficiency.

The programme funded by AWM and the European Regional Development Fund, as part of the  Birmingham Science City initiative, brings two of the region’s leading research universities – The University of Warwick and The University of Birmingham, to undertake a programme of state of the art energy efficiency research in partnership with local companies.

 The launch event took place in Maple House, in Birmingham’s Corporation St, Birmingham, and provided a showcase of expertise in the domain of energy efficiency and demand reduction across the West Midlands region. It outlined the collaboration already in place between the Universities and industry under this Birmingham Science City initiative and the opportunities for further collaboration. The event was opened by Science City Research Director Professor Pam Thomas and included contributions from a range of key figures  including:  John Loughhead, Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre; Nafees Meah, Head of Science, Department for Energy and Climate Change; Olwen Dutton, Chief Executive, West Midlands Regional Assembly; Professor Andrew Sentance, Warwick Business School and Member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee; Jeff Douglas, E.ON; John Hill from Converteam; Michael Thompson, Executive Director, West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence; and Martyn Mangan, AWM Automotive Cluster Manager. 

Welcome and introduction
Prof Pam Thomas, Director of the Science City Research Alliance

Keynote address,  
John Loughhead, UKERC Executive Director


Session 1: Energy Efficiency and Demand Reduction Policy

Government strategy: Energy efficiency & climate and change
Nafees Meah, Head of Science Dept for Energy and Climate Change

The strategic approach to energy efficiency and demand reduction in the West Midlands
Olwen Dutton, Chief Executive, West Midlands Regional Assembly


Session 2: The contribution of academics to a regional response to the energy challenge

An overview of the Science City Energy Efficiency & Demand Project
Prof Phil Mawby, Principal Investigator, University of Warwick

Summary of region's expertise and capability
Dr Mike Ahearne and Sarah Keay-Bright

Session 3: The contribution of business and industry to a regional response to the energy challenge

1. Providing Power
   Jeff Douglas, Central Networks (a subsidiary of E.ON UK)
2. Power Conversion
   Dr John Hill, Manager Renewables, Converteam.
3. Buildings & Construction
   Michael Thompson, Executive Director, West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence.
4. Automotive & Transport
   Martyn Mangan, AWM Automotive Cluster Manager, Advantage West Midlands
   

Session 4: Supporting research, collaboration and commercialising knowledge

The funding landscape for energy efficiency and demand reduction research and knowledge transfer
Ian Meikle, Lead Technologist, Low Impact Buildings Innovation Platform, Technology Strategy Board

Promoting international collaboration and inward investment
James Warren, International Business Manager, Advantage West Midlands

Support for delivering European research funding applications
Katherine Shepherd, EU Connects, Xenia Tsitiridou, West Midlands in Europe