Birmingham’s Tech Revolution: Driving Inclusive, Digital, and Green Growth
Guest blog by Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation at Birmingham Digital Partnership #StrongerTechEconomies #Midlands
Birmingham is at the forefront of regional transformation, using technology to tackle challenges, drive inclusive growth, and deliver on the UK’s levelling-up agenda. Central to these efforts is the DIATOMIC (Digital InnovAtion TransfOrMatIve Change) program, a broader initiative that builds on Birmingham’s history of innovation. While DIATOMIC stems from earlier programs like the Innovation Twins project, it is distinct, focusing on embedding sustainable and impactful tech solutions into the city’s fabric.
DIATOMIC: A Catalyst for Regional Growth
DIATOMIC is more than a single project—it’s an approach to driving digital, green, and inclusive innovation in Birmingham. At its core, the program highlights four key initiatives that are making a direct impact on the city’s development:
Innovator Accelerator: Empowering Local Businesses
The Innovator Accelerator is a cornerstone of DIATOMIC,, mentorship, and opportunities to collaborate with Birmingham City Council, the accelerator has enabled businesses to address issues such as housing, waste management, and citizen engagement. With £368,000 invested in nine SMEs, the program is helping to create local jobs and scale innovative solutions.
Digital Twins: Smarter Urban Management
The Digital Twin project exemplifies DIATOMIC’s commitment to green and digital growth. By creating a virtual model of Birmingham’s infrastructure, the project allows city planners to use real-time data to optimize transport systems, utilities, and public services. This technology reduces waste, improves resilience, and enables smarter decision-making, helping to future-proof the city.
Global City-to-City Demonstrator: Building International Partnerships
The Global City-to-City Demonstrator builds on the collaborative foundation of the Innovation Twins project but operates as a distinct initiative within DIATOMIC. This demonstrator fosters partnerships between Birmingham and international cities like Ulsan, South Korea. These relationships are enabling the exchange of knowledge and the development of solutions for circular economies, sustainability, and innovation. By connecting with global leaders, Birmingham ensures its local strategies are informed by international best practices.
Inclusive Innovation Hub: A Platform for Change
DIATOMIC’s fourth project is the establishment of the UK’s first Inclusive Innovation Hub, which promotes data-driven approaches to tackle inequality and ensure that technology benefits everyone. This hub aligns digital transformation with Birmingham’s social and environmental goals, ensuring that growth is both inclusive and sustainable.
Leveraging Regional Connectivity: WM5GIR
Complementing DIATOMIC is the West Midlands 5G Innovation Region (WM5GIR), which acceler 5G technologies across industries. From connected healthcare to smart transport systems, WM5GIR is laying the groundwork for faster, more efficient solutions in Birmingham and the wider region.
By integrating 5G into local businesses, WM5GIR is boosting productivity and driving innovation. Its work aligns closely with DIATOMIC’s mission, providing the connectivity needed to support smart city initiatives and green technology.
Innovation for Inclusive, Digital, and Green Growth
The projects under DIATOMIC exemplify how Birmingham is combining inclusivity with digital and green growth. By focusing on local challenges and empowering SMEs, the program ensures that technology benefits the entire community. Projects like the Digital Twin and Global City-to-City Demonstrator are directly contributing to sustainability, helping Birmingham lead the way in creating smarter, greener cities.
Collaboration as a Key Driver
What makes DIATOMIC particularly effective is its collaborative nature. The initiative brings together local government, academic institutions, and international partners to ensure that its solutions are both innovative and practical. While DIATOMIC stems from earlier initiatives like the Innovation Twins, it has evolved into a distinct program, addressing Birmingham’s specific needs while contributing to global conversations on sustainability and smart city development.
This model serves as a blueprint for other regions, showing how partnerships can amplify impact and ensure that innovation drives tangible benefits.
Digital Birmingham is a city-wide initiative dedicated to transforming Birmingham into a leading digital city. It focuses on providing the city's institutions, communities, and businesses with the digital infrastructure, data platforms, and enablement programs necessary to thrive in the digital world.
The Birmingham Digital Partnership embodies a collaborative approach, bringing together local businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations from the public, private, community, and academic sectors. This partnership aims to maximize the use of digital technologies and enhance the skills of citizens and local businesses, fostering an inclusive and sustainable future for all.
Together, Digital Birmingham and the Birmingham Digital Partnership are at the forefront of the city's digital transformation, ensuring that technological advancements benefit every resident and business.
A Blueprint for the UK
Through DIATOMIC and complementary initiatives like WM5GIR, Birmingham is proving that technology can be a catalyst for levelling up. By combining inclusive, digital, and green growth, the city is setting a benchmark for regional transformation.
As these projects continue to evolve, Birmingham’s approach highlights how technology, collaboration, and a focus on sustainability can create a brighter, more equitable future—not just for one city, but for the entire UK.
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Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.
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Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
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Programme Manager, Small Business Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie Barr
Programme Manager, Small Business Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie is the Programme Manager for Small Business Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.
Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.
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Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
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