James Lister & Sons from Smethwick participates in Amazon’s Innovation Accelerator, gaining insights into innovation and technology
By Anushka Malhotra
1 minute 11 seconds
Tech

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Quick Read: Gamers in the West Midlands can now participate in an immersive online experience created by the RSPCA, exploring futuristic scenarios about animal welfare in 2050.
Gamers in the West Midlands are being offered a unique opportunity to explore potential futures for animal welfare through a new immersive online experience launched by the RSPCA. The interactive platform, titled "Animal Futures," invites players to consider what life might be like for animals by 2050, and how human actions today can shape that future.
Produced by leading digital agency Unseen Studio, the experience is part of the RSPCA’s new Animal Futures Project, which draws on groundbreaking research to imagine five possible futures. These scenarios range from dystopian possibilities like robot pets and exclusive nature retreats for the wealthy, to hopeful innovations such as lab-grown meat and AI technologies that allow humans to communicate with animals.
RSPCA CEO Chris Sherwood warned of "chilling" potential futures unless we act now:
“We need to rethink our relationship with animals, both in the West Midlands and globally. The future of animals, whether in farms, labs, homes, or the wild, is closely tied to our own fate. Climate change, habitat loss, and rapid technological changes will drastically alter our world—and theirs. Some scenarios seem bleak, but we have the power to change that.”
The Animal Futures experience allows players to explore these futuristic scenarios and consider their role in creating a better world for animals. The RSPCA highlights that while some scenarios might seem far-fetched, many of these trends are already unfolding today. From rising temperatures leading to animal starvation in the Southern Hemisphere to the expansion of lower-welfare farming practices, the future of animals—and humanity—is at stake.
With the launch of this project, the RSPCA hopes to inspire individuals in the West Midlands and beyond to take meaningful action for animal welfare.
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West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.
Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.
The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.
Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.
Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:
We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.
In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:
The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.
Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:
This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.
The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.
By Anushka Malhotra
24 Jun