Mayor Andy Street Unveils Plans for 'FutureFest' to Propel West Midlands Tech Sector

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute

Investment

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Quick Read: Mayor Andy Street unveils plans for 'FutureFest', a tech festival aiming to boost the West Midlands' global tech presence, attract investment, and foster innovation.

In an ambitious move to position the West Midlands as a global hub for technology and innovation, Mayor Andy Street has revealed plans for 'FutureFest', a pioneering tech festival set to rival the renowned South by Southwest event in Texas. The initiative aims to spotlight the region's burgeoning tech industry, valued at over £15.3 billion, and attract international investment and talent.

Photo: Harpal Mattu, Paul Tomlinson, Ben Ward, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Photo Credit: Business Live

The announcement comes as the West Midlands asserts its prominence in the UK's tech landscape, boasting the fastest-growing tech sector in the country. Mayor Street envisions FutureFest as a catalyst for showcasing the region's advancements in technology, digital, music, and TV, while also serving as a platform to forge invaluable global connections.

AI Generated Image of Future Fest

At the heart of FutureFest lies a commitment to innovation and collaboration, with Mayor Street emphasising the festival's role in spotlighting the West Midlands' transformational journey from the epicentre of the Industrial Revolution to a trailblazer in the next wave of industrial evolution. The event aims to underscore the region's attractiveness as a base for tech firms, drawing attention to its vibrant ecosystem and potential for growth.

While specifics regarding dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, the announcement signals Mayor Street's proactive approach to driving economic growth and prosperity in the region. With the upcoming mayoral election looming, the unveiling of FutureFest underscores a strategic vision to harness the West Midlands' immense potential and solidify its position on the global tech stage.

What's new

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