HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS
Strategic innovation. Inclusive growth. Trusted collaboration.
Working With Higher Education Institutions
Universities are essential drivers of innovation, skills development, and long‑term economic growth. Our region’s higher education institutions (HEI) sit at the heart of a vibrant technology ecosystem, fuelling talent, research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. By working closely with them, we help ensure that businesses have access to the people, ideas, and partnerships they need to thrive.
Why Higher Education Matters to Our Ecosystem
Driving cutting‑edge research and innovation, enabling businesses to explore emerging technologies and ways of working, collaborate on R&D, and bring new solutions to market.
Skills and knowledge for scaling businesses, through unique access to talent and funding, universities are a key mechanism for accessing government support for scaling businesses.
Support entrepreneurship and spinouts, turning ideas into high‑growth tech ventures that create jobs, investment, and new opportunities.
Build and nurture a future-ready talent pipeline, ensuring the region has the digital skills needed for economic competitiveness.
Attract global partnerships and investment, raising the profile of the region and positioning it as a leading destination for advanced technology innovation.
SuperTech works in two ways with the HEI community: through the Next Generation Services HEI Forum and through strategic partnerships with individual institutions.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO YOU?
Accelerate Research Adoption & Commercialisation
SuperTech connects universities with businesses seeking cutting‑edge innovation, creating faster, more effective pathways from academic research to real‑world application.
Unlock High‑Value Partnerships & Funding Opportunities
Through the Next Generation Services HEI Forum, institutions can form strong consortia that open doors to government-backed innovation funding and large‑scale industry collaborations.
Showcase Institutional Strengths to Industry Leaders
SuperTech highlights each university’s specialist expertise — from AI and data science and fintech — positioning them as strategic partners for innovation‑driven businesses.
Next Generation Services Higher Education Forum
The Next Generation Services Higher Education Forum brings together all the universities from across the West Midlands, aligning strategic focus and expertise to drive growth through innovation. Through collaboration and building consortium, we are enhancing the ecosystem with high-quality innovation services and offerings for businesses.
Members of the Forum include:
Aston University
Birmingham City University
Coventry University
University of Birmingham
University of Warwick/ Warwick Business School
University of Wolverhampton
Each institution brings unique strengths that deepen the region’s innovation capacity and support the growth of next generation services.
Strategic HEI Partners
Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology – University of Warwick
The Gillmore Centre is a global leader in fintech research, focusing on emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, sustainable finance, digital assets, and machine learning-driven financial innovation. Its expertise plays a central role in shaping the future of financial technology across the region, providing world-class research, industry collaboration, and a talent pipeline equipped for the next wave of digital finance.
Centre of Excellence for Enterprise AI – Aston University
Aston University is home to nationally recognised strengths in artificial intelligence, data science, and applied machine learning.
Through specialised research hubs, industry-facing AI programmes, and cutting-edge academic expertise, Aston helps drive adoption of AI across business and public-sector applications—supporting productivity, innovation, and the development of advanced digital skills.
STEAMhouse – Birmingham City University
STEAMhouse is a major centre for collaborative innovation, combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to help businesses solve complex challenges. It provides state-of-the-art facilities, interdisciplinary expertise, and practical support for organisations looking to prototype, test, and scale new ideas. As a hub for creativity, digital innovation, and enterprise, STEAMhouse plays a pivotal role in strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Aston University - Centre of Excellence for Enterprise AI
The most powerful innovation doesn't happen by chance - it's built in the right ecosystem. At SuperTech, we bring together businesses and higher education institutions to spark collaboration that delivers real innovation impact. In this video, we hear from our partners at Aston University, who are working with us to turn those connections into meaningful change across the West Midlands.
Warwick Business School - Gilmore Centre For Financial Technology
SuperTech partners with leading institutions like Warwick Business School’s Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology to accelerate cutting‑edge research and innovation and strengthen a future‑ready talent pipeline. By building consortium and collaboration, we’re enhancing the ecosystem, helping fintech research bring new solutions to market and attract global partnerships and investment.
Birmingham City University - STEAMHouse
Building the next generation of professional and financial services is a collective pursuit. Progress doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens when established institutions, innovative SMEs, academia and talent from across the region come together with a shared purpose.
In this video we hear why our corporate partners choose to partner with SuperTech and STEAMHouse to deliver their FinTech Innovation Lab.
Partnerships Built on Trusted Innovation
Trusted Partner in Your Innovation Journey
SuperTech is a long-term partner, helping organisations to:
Horizon-scan what’s coming next
Build a resilient innovation pipeline aligned to your strategic goals
Strengthen reputation as a forward-looking, responsible leader
Our role is to make innovation accessible, credible and commercially relevant at every stage.
Join Us
If you are interested in joining the forum or becoming a strategic partner, please get in touch.