Unlocking growth and scaling the West Midlands' frontier tech economy
The West Midlands Tech Review 2026 sets out a clear vision: the region can become the UK’s leading testbed for applied frontier technology, turning innovation into real-world productivity, resilience, and inclusive growth. Rather than competing as a purely research-led ecosystem, the West Midlands’ distinctive strength lies in deploying advanced technologies across its diverse, industrial economy.
At the heart of this proposition is a powerful combination of assets. The region brings together advanced manufacturing, mobility, health-tech, fintech, cybersecurity, and clean energy with world-class universities, a diverse talent base, and strong public-sector collaboration. This creates a unique environment where innovation is not confined to labs—but tested and scaled in real operational settings.
From innovation to impact
The Review argues that the next phase of growth will not be driven by invention alone, but by adoption at scale. The West Midlands already has strong digital infrastructure, a growing startup base, and a significant scaleup economy. However, the key challenge is conversion: turning these strengths into widespread business productivity, commercial success, and investment.
To address this, the region must focus on two complementary forces:
Breadth – embedding technologies such as AI, cyber, data, and automation across sectors like manufacturing, health, logistics, and public services
Depth – building specialist capability in frontier technologies such as applied AI, cyber resilience, and quantum-adjacent innovation
Crucially, both depend on a strong foundation of data architecture—secure, interoperable systems that allow organisations to scale technology confidently and responsibly.
Frontier technologies as economic engines
Three technologies stand out as central to the region’s growth model:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is positioned as the most immediate opportunity, acting as a productivity engine across industries—from predictive manufacturing to public service transformation.
Cyber resilience is no longer just a technical concern but a condition for growth, underpinning trust, supply-chain security, and investment readiness.
Quantum technologies present a longer-term opportunity, with near-term value in areas such as secure communications, sensing, and post-quantum security.
Together, these technologies form a converging “frontier stack,” enabling businesses to operate more efficiently, securely, and competitively.
Building a connected growth ecosystem
The Review emphasises that success depends on coordination across the ecosystem. Businesses sit at the centre, supported by government, universities, investors, and talent systems. However, fragmentation remains a barrier—firms often struggle to access support, capital, customers, or skills at the right time.
To overcome this, the region is developing an “innovation operating system,” aligning programmes around clear outcomes such as SME adoption, scaleup growth, and improved productivity. Platforms like technology demonstrators, adoption accelerators, and regional partnerships are key to connecting capability with demand.
Skills and talent: the foundation for growth
Talent is treated as economic infrastructure. The region’s future depends on building not only technical expertise, but applied capability—people who can use AI, manage data, and implement technology in complex, real-world environments.
This requires:
Employer-led skills pathways aligned to industry demand
Workforce-wide digital and AI literacy
Leadership capability to manage responsible adoption
Inclusive access to opportunities across diverse communities
By linking skills directly to sector needs, the West Midlands can accelerate both adoption and innovation.
From momentum to maturity
Ultimately, the West Midlands has the ingredients to lead the UK in applied frontier tech. The challenge now is delivery: connecting innovation to adoption, startups to scaleups, and strategy to measurable outcomes.
By focusing on real-world application, coordinated delivery, and inclusive growth, the region can move from momentum to maturity—becoming a globally recognised hub where frontier technologies deliver tangible economic impact.
We welcome the West Midlands Tech Review 2026, which showcases the region’s growing strength as a leader in applied frontier technologies and its ability to turn innovation into real economic impact. This report highlights the opportunity for the West Midlands to lead the UK in scaling technology adoption, driving productivity, and enabling inclusive growth through collaboration across industry, academia, and the public sector. techUK looks forward to working with TechWM on these objectives and strengthening our partnership to deliver on this
Matt Robinson
Head of Nations and Regions at techUK
techUK was pleased to welcome the latest edition of the West Midlands Tech Review and extend our thanks to TechWM CEO, Andy Hague, and all the team at TechWM for sharing and discussing the report with techUK in advance of publication. techUK provided data from Local Digital Index, a partnership between techUK and The Data City to map the strength of the digital economy and tech sector across the UK, and supported with additional information from Beauhurst.
Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.
He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.
If you’d like to find out more about our work in the nations and regions please get in touch with Matt:
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie Barr
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.
Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.
Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.
Programme Manager – Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Luke Newcombe
Programme Manager – Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Luke joined techUK in September 2025 as a Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions.
Luke works closely with members and stakeholders across industry and government at local, regional and national levels to support collaboration, drive innovation and strengthen tech-enabled public services. His work supports the development of strong local and regional tech economies by helping organisations to engage with public sector challenges, explore emerging technologies and build impactful partnerships.
Prior to joining techUK, Luke worked at Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s export development agency. He began by advising SMEs on export strategy to the UK and later focused on connecting Irish businesses with multinational organisations to foster strategic partnerships, drive international growth and support economic development.
Luke holds an MSc in Political Economy from the University of Amsterdam and a BA in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin.
techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience across the nations and regions. Visit the programme page here
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This manifesto sets out techUK’s priorities for devolved governments, focusing on driving economic growth, supporting a thriving tech sector and placing digital at the heart of public services. It outlines practical policy actions and opportunities for collaboration to help technology deliver better outcomes for people, places and the economy.
techUK is delighted to publish the 2025 edition of our Local Digital Index. This is the fifth edition of the Index and provides updated data, new insights and a more user-friendly set of maps to help all those using the tool to inform their work and support decision making.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.
Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.
He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.
If you’d like to find out more about our work in the nations and regions please get in touch with Matt:
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie Barr
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.
Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.
Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.
Programme Manager – Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Luke Newcombe
Programme Manager – Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Luke joined techUK in September 2025 as a Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions.
Luke works closely with members and stakeholders across industry and government at local, regional and national levels to support collaboration, drive innovation and strengthen tech-enabled public services. His work supports the development of strong local and regional tech economies by helping organisations to engage with public sector challenges, explore emerging technologies and build impactful partnerships.
Prior to joining techUK, Luke worked at Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s export development agency. He began by advising SMEs on export strategy to the UK and later focused on connecting Irish businesses with multinational organisations to foster strategic partnerships, drive international growth and support economic development.
Luke holds an MSc in Political Economy from the University of Amsterdam and a BA in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin.
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