An event at Molineux Stadium today (Thursday) showcased why Wolverhampton is fast becoming a powerhouse for research-led, clean and green industries and cutting-edge 'green' tech.

Aligned with the West Midlands Growth Company's 'It Starts Here' campaign, the ‘It Starts in Wolverhampton: Innovating for Sustainable Growth’ event demonstrated why there has never been a better time to invest, grow and succeed in the city.

More than 200 delegates attended the showcase supported by headline sponsors University of Wolverhampton and WLV Business Link, and reception sponsor Turner & Townsend.

They heard how City of Wolverhampton Council in partnership with University of Wolverhampton is developing the Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) in the city, to create a world-class eco, green innovation district delivering in excess of 20,000sqm of new R&D, laboratory and commercial floorspace and 1,200 new jobs.

The early phases of the GIC programme focusing on bringing forward demand-led business space on four underutilised land parcels of land at Wolverhampton Science Park will be supported by £7million of Investment Zone funding and £20million of funding secured by the council from the Government.

As well as this capital funding, GIC and the wider city will benefit from the IZ Regional Business Support, Skills and R&D programmes and Delivery Capacity Funding programmes, being developed with local and regional partners.

This builds on pioneering facilities and businesses already in place in the city such as the National Brownfield Institute, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, including the SPARK Incubator, Composite & Additive Layer Materials Engineering Research & Innovation Centre, Centre for Green Electricals Materials Manufacturing and global companies like JLR, Collins, Moog, and leaders in 3D printing, EOS UK.

Industry leaders and visionaries shaping the future of clean and green industries also highlighted why Wolverhampton is the place to be for innovation and sustainable growth.

This included Craig Osman, Operations Director for EPMC i54, JLR, who focused on vehicle electrification, investment and cutting-edge innovation at the Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre at i54, jobs, supply chain, the wider overview of the footprint in the West Midlands and the JLR Reimagine strategy.

Olivia Simpson, Chief Operations Officer, FlexSea, also explained why her business relocated from London to Wolverhampton and is redefining bioplastics with a revolutionary product made from seaweed - certified plastic-free and home compostable.

Davide Iacovelli, Regional Director EMEA, EOS UK highlighted his company’s work in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton at the new UK Centre of Excellence for Additive Manufacturing based in the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills at the university’s Springfield Campus. It specialises in the development of advanced materials and processes for demanding applications within industries such as space, automotive, aerospace, electronics, and quantum computing.

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The event showed the level of innovation, the groundbreaking designs, partnerships and research and development happening right here in our city.

“It is truly remarkable and testament to the skilled people that have been attracted here and been nurtured by our businesses and organisations.

“Building on some of our local strengths, and particularly those of the university and businesses, we will make the Green Innovation Corridor a success.

“Our ambition for the Green Innovation Corridor is for it to be a world leading research-led cluster in green technologies with a focus on green construction, green computing and green engineering. The GIC will support businesses and the wider economy in its transition to net zero and aim to create more productive, sustainable, highly skilled and innovative industry.

“It is also about taking the economy of Wolverhampton forward, building on the expertise, research and development and skills that Wolverhampton has to offer and deliver jobs growth, a higher wage economy, a more inclusive economy, a more sustainable economy and place, the development of brownfield sites - some that have been vacant for years- and a vibrant corridor that is well connected and renowned for its research-led clusters in engineering, computing and construction.”