A new chapter begins today for Birmingham’s future as five of the city’s leading organisations officially sign the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (B-KQ) Collaboration Agreement.
This alliance between Aston University, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City University, Bruntwood SciTech and Woodbourne Group, supported by West Midlands Combined Authority, signals the launch of a world-class innovation district and anchor site within the West Midlands Investment Zone – one designed to deliver global impact while creating tangible benefits for communities across Aston, Newtown, Nechells, and the wider city.
A Partnership for Progress
The Agreement establishes a robust foundation for joint governance, delivery, and investment in the heart of Birmingham. B-KQ will become a vibrant, globally connected hub for life sciences, digital health, fintech, and advanced manufacturing — delivering over 580,000sqm of new space commercial and innovation space, creating more than 22,000 highly skilled jobs, alongside new homes, public realm enhancements, green spaces and a vibrant cultural and community offer.
This partnership builds on significant momentum across the district, including Woodbourne Group’s newly announced collaboration with global real estate investment manager Hines — a deal that could unlock up to £400 million of additional investment into B‐KQ’s residential and innovation pipeline. Birmingham City University and Aston University are both major anchor institutions driving this growth. Birmingham City University has invested over £400 million to revitalise Birmingham and transform the Eastside district with flagship initiatives including the award-winning STEAMhouse: a landmark innovation hub fostering collaboration among businesses, creatives, students and researchers. Meanwhile, Aston University’s Birmingham Innovation Precinct (BIP), adjacent to its main campus, is nurturing groundbreaking ideas and enterprise creation, including the new Aston Business Hub at 10 Woodcock Street.
Together, both universities’ long‐standing work with local schools, colleges, and SMEs will ensure that residents in neighbouring communities can access training, apprenticeships, and enterprise support. Planned improvements to public spaces around Aston University Campus, Jennens Road, and Curzon Street will create safer, greener routes that better connect local neighbourhoods with the city centre and major transport hubs.
A map of the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
Unlocking Opportunity and Inclusive Growth
B-KQ’s vision is not just about buildings, but about people. The district is designed to empower local communities, create pathways to high-value careers, and transform the city’s economic prospects. By bringing together world-leading universities, pioneering developers, and city leadership, B-KQ will act as a magnet for global talent, investment, and innovation while ensuring the region’s diverse communities benefit from new opportunities, upskilling, and improved wellbeing.
This partnership further strengthens that ambition, with the potential to significantly expand the district’s capacity for life sciences, AI, digital health, and advanced manufacturing—sectors identified as national priorities for growth. At the same time, new cultural and community facilities within B-KQ will reflect Birmingham’s identity as one of the UK’s most diverse cities, supporting local creatives, makers, and grassroots organisations.
World-Class Connectivity and Incentives
Strategically located alongside the new HS2 Curzon Street station and the “Innovation Line” rail corridor, B-KQ offers unmatched connectivity to London, Oxford, Cambridge, and beyond. As part of the West Midlands Investment Zone, B-KQ provides a unique package of government-backed incentives across multiple sites for businesses, investors, and developers, including:
- Five years of full business rates relief for new and expanding businesses on designated tax sites (available until March 2034)
- 100% first-year capital allowances for investment in plant and machinery
- Full Stamp Duty Land Tax relief on commercial land and building acquisitions (until September 2034)
- Enhanced structures and buildings allowances (10% p.a.)
- Increased Employer National Insurance threshold for eligible new employees
170,000 sqft of innovation and tech space is available now including at Bruntwood SciTech’s Enterprise Wharf, Aston Business Hub and Woodbourne Groups upcoming BioCity at Curzon Wharf with further opportunities for pre-lets and investment in the Northern Gateway mixed-use project.
A Shared Vision for City and Nation
The B-KQ Collaboration Agreement aligns with Birmingham’s “Our Future City – Central Birmingham Framework 2045” and advances national priorities for innovation and sustainable growth. The partners invite occupiers, investors, and community groups to join this once-in-a-generation transformation.
Partner Quotes
Councillor Sharon Thomspon, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council & Chair of the B-KQ Strategic Programme Board:
“Birmingham has always been a city of innovation, and with an emphasis on sectors like advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and Life Sciences, B-KQ continues our proud history of being at the cutting edge of technology.
“This is one of the most investable cities in the country, a city of unmatched potential and opportunity, and thanks to partnerships like this we are creating jobs, opportunities and prosperity for a young and growing population.”
Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University:
“This partnership empowers our world-class research and entrepreneurial talent to work hand-in-hand with businesses and community, co-creating solutions to the biggest regional challenges, and delivering socio-economic transformation. Within the B-KQ is the Birmingham Innovation Precinct (BIP) a 20-hectare area adjacent to Aston University which will nurture groundbreaking ideas and foster enterprise creation including the development of the new Aston Business Hub within the landmark 10 Woodcock Street building.”
Professor David Mba, Vice Chancellor, Birmingham City University:
“This collaboration is a statement of intent for Birmingham. Guided by BCU’s Strategy 2030 and our mission to be an exemplar anchor tenant, we will work with our partners – aligning talent, investment and ambition – to position Birmingham and the West Midlands as a globally recognised centre for innovation, while ensuring local communities share directly in the opportunities this growth creates.”
Chris Oglesby, Chief Executive, Bruntwood SciTech:
“B-KQ represents an exciting new blueprint for embedding innovation into the heart of a city. Through close partnership with the city’s academic, civic and commercial leaders, we’re helping shape this next chapter for Birmingham. From landmark investments like Centre City and the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, to the development of Enterprise Wharf within the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, Bruntwood SciTech is committed to delivering the world-class infrastructure, partnerships and support that innovation-led businesses need to scale, collaborate and innovate.”
Tani Dulay, Chief Executive, Woodbourne Group:
“This agreement represents a commitment to a once in a generation opportunity for the city. Woodbourne Group is committed to delivering B-KQ as an integrated district of inclusive residential living and internationally recognised innovation and life sciences environment that reinforce Birmingham’s global standing”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:
“The foundations are now in place for the Knowledge Quarter to become a vibrant innovation district where the next generation of trailblazers in life sciences, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing will want to be. All three of my key Investment Zone sites are now rapidly moving towards spades in the ground, following this agreement. That means real benefits are coming for local people with thousands of new jobs, modern homes, fresh skills, and new investment flowing into communities across Birmingham Eastside, Aston, and the wider region.”
For more information, to download the B-KQ prospectus, or to enquire about opportunities, visit B-KQ Website Link, follow us on LinkedIn or contact West Midlands Growth Company for inbound investment enquiries.
Image caption, from left to right.
- Richard Lawrence, Executive Director of Place, Prosperity and Sustainability, Birmingham City Council
- Moe Ali – Associate Director, Bruntwood Sci-Tech
- Rooqia Malik – Programme Manager, West Midlands Investment Zone, WMCA
- Professor David Mba – Vice-Chancellor, BCU
- Cllr Sharon Thompson – B-KQ Strategic Partnership Board Chair, Deputy Leader of BCC and Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands
- Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University
- Catherine Hadfield – Strategic Lead, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter
- Tani Dulay – CEO, Woodbourne Grou