Birmingham City University has been recognised for its commitment to innovation by becoming the first institution in the West Midlands – and only the second in the country – to be awarded a major national accreditation.
The University has achieved the Investor in Innovations Standard from the UK’s Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (IKE).
The Standard recognises how the University has worked with businesses and partners to drive innovation and growth, as well as the research taking place across the institution which is breaking new ground in a range of disciplines.
The Investor in Innovations Standard marks out organisations as leaders in innovation and key exemplars for other businesses. It is aligned and mapped to the internationally recognised ISO 56002 Innovation Management Systems guidance.
What is the IKE Institute?
The IKE Institute is the UK's professional body for innovators. It was created 20 years ago in order to add validity, quality and consistency to innovation in business, a term that had begun to be used frequently by many without a solid understanding of what it meant.
IKE Institute’s work is guided by the Innovation Council, which brings together senior business leaders representing different economic sectors, including Rolls-Royce, GSK, Balfour Beatty Vinci and the BBC.
Becoming the only institution in the Midlands to receive the accreditation solidifies BCU’s position as the University for Birmingham, enabling the University to offer more courses and professional support to the region’s businesses, helping them to better understand and utilise innovation.
What are the benefits?
Our IKE accreditation will afford us the ability to help skill up innovation practitioners to support them in scaling their ambitions, equipping them with step-by-step guides on where to start, how to support new ideas and implement them.
Through the process, they will become part of a wider innovation community.
They will use that insight internally or with our specialist academics to signpost them to the wider ecosystem, should they require alternate support.
We will encourage and work with businesses, stakeholders, public and third sector and practitioners to ensure Birmingham and its global partners becomes a real force for industrial innovation across the UK and beyond.
In the short term, our focus will be on building up innovative capacity, ensuring more students, more graduates, more SMEs and larger businesses have access to the toolkits which really help seed a shift in culture that is critical to drive innovation.
It is hoped that this accredited learning will empower businesses and partners to drive innovation and growth in a practical, inclusive and informative way, making the challenge feel much more accessible.