Future of Mobility to Be Focus of International Trade Event at Birmingham 2022
A major trade event focused on the future of mobility will take place at UK House: The Commonwealth Business Hub, during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on Thursday 4th August 2022.
Registration is now open for the one-day programme, which includes specific events on the rail, automotive and aerospace industries.
The event will:
- Shine a spotlight on the next generation of transport technology and the UK’s vital role in the transport transition – from sustainability to automation
- Bring together policy makers and business leaders from across the Commonwealth to tackle issues such as decarbonisation, to shape the future of mobility
- Showcase the West Midlands’ position at the heart of global transport innovation
Whether attending in person or online, this event will offer delegates a unique opportunity to gain insights into the leading expertise and knowledge that places the UK at the cutting edge of developments in transport.
Speakers confirmed to date include:
- Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands
- Ian Constance, CEO, Advanced Propulsion Centre
- Margot James, Executive Chair, Warwick Manufacturing Group
- Isobel Sheldon OBE, Chief Strategy Officer at Britishvolt
- Vinnie Mehta, Director General, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India
UK House is a platform that will build on the cooperative spirit of the Commonwealth Games and the UK’s climate leadership at COP26. It will bring together businesses and government leaders to discover opportunities for international partnership and innovation, with a view to delivering sustainable growth.
The Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity to not only showcase the best of British sport, but also how the UK and the West Midlands are shaping the future of transport. As the eyes of the Commonwealth fall on Birmingham, UK House provides us with a unique platform to share ideas, discover new pathways for collaboration and build awareness of the cutting-edge developments that are happening here in the UK. Together, we will share experiences and insight to help drive transport innovation across the Commonwealth. I urge businesses of all sizes to sign up and join us for this unique chance to learn and grow together.Director General for Exports and UK Trade at the Department for International Trade, Andrew Mitchell said:
In many ways, the future of mobility is being shaped here in Birmingham and the West Midlands. As the UK’s leading hub for innovative thinking in the mobility space, we are writing the story of how places will organise their infrastructure and how people will traverse urban centres. We are fortunate to have an extensive supply chain network across rail, aerospace and automotive – bolstered by the excellence of our region’s world renowned academic institutions working on cutting edge R&D in fields such as low carbon technology. So we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase at UK House all that we have to offer to transport leaders from across the Commonwealth - shining a global spotlight on the West Midlands, our role in advancing decarbonisation, and the next generation of transport technology.Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street said:
Over the next two decades, transport technology will develop faster than at any time since the Victorian era. Changes to the nature of working alongside new technologies, such as automation and vehicle electrification, are already having an impact on how the system functions.
The UK is a global leader in this transition. Through the Industrial Strategy’s Grand Challenges, the UK is grasping commercial opportunities to fully exploit its potential and create a transport system that is fit for the future.
The West Midlands is at the forefront of transport innovation in the UK with particular strengths in battery storage, digital rail and low carbon mobility solutions. From the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre to the 5G self-drive testbed, the West Midlands is also central to the UK’s £50-100bn connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) sector. As the UK’s historic automotive capital, a third of all British-made cars and one in four UK engines are developed in the region.
Sessions at UK House will cover topics such as decarbonising transport, digital rail, sustainability solutions in the aerospace industry and vehicle electrification. This forum presents a unique opportunity for businesses to gain insight from international transport experts and to learn about the support for export available from the Department for International Trade.
Hosted by the UK’s Department for International Trade in partnership with the region’s official economic development agency, the West Midlands Growth Company, UK House is part of the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), the first programme of its kind aligned to the Commonwealth Games. It will boost the economic impact of sport and physical activity created by Birmingham 2022.
Business leaders and senior policy makers are invited to register to attend, in person or online, at www.ukhouse2022.co.uk
BATP is sponsored by E.ON, Airbnb, Reckitt, University of Birmingham, Bruntwood and Gowling WLG.
This article was originally published by Speed Communications.
