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West Midlands Innovation Programme
West Midlands Innovation Programme
Overview
The West Midlands Innovation Programme (WMIP) addresses regional innovation capability and capacity challenges by supporting innovation activities in the region through key clusters, promoting cross-sector innovation, and enhancing the region's innovation ecosystem.
Building on the success of WMIP 1.0, which generated over £28m in additional GVA, and WMIP 2.0, which levered over £13.5m co-investment into the West Midlands innovation ecosystem, WMIP 3.0 (2025-2026) continues to stimulate R&D&I activities across the region, generate additional public and private investment into innovation, and contribute to the regional economic growth.
Led by the West Midlands Combined Authority, WMIP 3.0 aligns with the objectives of the West Midlands Plan for Growth and supports Cluster Leadership activities through the team of Cluster Innovation Partners (CIPs). The programme budget includes the Flexible Innovation Fund dedicated to the development and delivery of innovative collaborative interventions that address barriers to innovation in the West Midlands.
Applications Open — WMIP Flexible Innovation Fund: 2025-26
A total of 8 projects will deliver business support to businesses in the region. This fully funded opportunity is available to organisations and consortia of West Midlands innovation ecosystem stakeholders and is aimed at supporting pilot projects that:
- Are small-scale and time-limited in nature
- Stimulate innovation activity across West Midlands priority clusters
- Can demonstrate long-term scalability at regional, national, or international levels
- Aim to create lasting structural change in the West Midlands innovation ecosystem
- Seek to attract further public or private co-investment
Those 8 projects include:
- RAMP - Robotics Adoption in the Midlands Programme (delivered by University of Birmingham)
ChoreoLab LIVE is a dance-led digital innovation accelerator delivered by Eloquent Dance. The project supports creative entrepreneurs to develop new ideas at the intersection of dance, culture and technology.
To learn more about this project, click here (external link).
Delivered by Coventry University, Createch Europe Connect helps West Midlands creative, digital and immersive SMEs expand into Europe through funded showcases, partner brokering and direct access to Coventry University’s European networks (EBN, EEN, ERRIN and the CU Brussels Office).
The programme connects businesses with EU partners, markets and investors to accelerate export-led growth.
The Cyber Clinic is a six-month, fully funded initiative helping West Midlands SMEs strengthen their cyber resilience.
Delivered by the Aston Centre for Cyber Security Innovation (CSI), it offers practical support, expert guidance and tools to reduce risk, build confidence and unlock digital opportunities.
Learn more by visiting their page, click this link (external link).
Delivered by the Aston Centre for Cyber Security Innovation (CSI), it offers practical support, expert guidance and tools to reduce risk, build confidence and unlock digital opportunities.
Learn more by visiting their page, click this link (external link).
This is a six‑month, fully funded initiative helping West Midlands SMEs adopt artificial intelligence with confidence and low risk. It gives businesses a clear, practical route to understanding how AI can reduce costs, boost productivity and unlock new opportunities.
Delivered by Aston University (AiPT) and the Technology Supply Chain, the programme offers sector‑specific workshops, personalised AI roadmaps and hands‑on innovation support to help SMEs test ideas, build prototypes and move from early curiosity to real‑world implementation.
Learn more, click this link to their webpage (external link)
Delivered by PitchHub Ltd. The Service Business Innovation Accelerator (SBIA) helps West Midlands service businesses turn expertise into digital products and expand beyond local markets.
20 businesses will receive support in IP mapping, AI-driven product development, market growth, and investment readiness.
To find out more, click here to visit their website (external link).
20 businesses will receive support in IP mapping, AI-driven product development, market growth, and investment readiness.
To find out more, click here to visit their website (external link).
Traction (delivered by Form Leadership Limited) is a fully funded programme helping West Midlands businesses sharpen their offer, test their market and build the commercial engine that turns innovation into revenue.
Across three sprints, you’ll run real-world growth experiments, generate early sales ideas and shape clear plans for repeatable revenue.
For more information, click here to visit their website.
The XR Health & Wellbeing Project (delivered by Medilink and WMHTC) is creating a regional XR Health Tech Hub to accelerate immersive technologies for mental health, social care and wider wellbeing.
It supports West Midlands SMEs developing VR tools for emotional regulation, trauma‑informed care and safeguarding, helping them shape solutions that meet real clinical and community needs.
Across its activity, the project brings together partners including Birmingham City Universal, NHS organisations and leading XR innovators to test ideas, strengthen evidence and align new products with NHS priorities and national government strategies.
For more information, click here to visit their website.
Case Studies
From supporting companies adopting AI into their company's needs, to helping small manufacturers navigate the innovation funding ecosystem.
The West Midlands Innovation Programme has supported business in our region in areas spanning: health-tech, sustainability, manufacturing and creative industries.
Stay tuned for more case studies as the programme continues to invest in innovative businesses across the West Midlands with the upcoming West Midlands Flexible Innovation Fund.