Innovation and R&D in Birmingham
From precision diagnostics in Selly Oak to clean energy in Tyseley and photonics at Aston, Birmingham brings research and engineering into practical use.
Supporting innovative businesses in Birmingham and the surrounding area
Technical expertise: Ardy Elansei
Core strengths of Birmingham's innovation and R&D scene.
Health innovation. Clean energy. Photonics and sensing.
What innovation is happening in Birmingham?
Birmingham's innovation activity spans clinical research, industrial energy systems and technologies built around light. This guide follows three city locations: Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in Selly Oak, Tyseley Energy Park in east Birmingham and Aston University. Together they show how laboratory work, prototype development and testing connect to real industrial and healthcare challenges.
A technical perspective
Meet Ardy Elansei.
From diagnostics to cleaner industrial systems, Birmingham's innovation activity spans science and engineering. Ardy helps connect the scientific aims of a project with a clear account of its technical development.
Ardy Elansei
R&D Tax Manager
- Science and Technology Claims
Innovation in practice.
We’ve highlighted three area strengths for you to explore in detail.
01 / Health innovation and precision diagnostics
Connecting laboratory development with clinical evidence
Selly Oak, Birmingham
Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in Selly Oak opened its first building in 2025, bringing PHTA's laboratory and prototyping facilities together with clinical trials and immunology expertise. Work across diagnostics, advanced therapies and digital health connects the development of new healthcare technologies with the evidence needed to assess them.
The challenge: Turning laboratory ideas into healthcare technologies that can be tested and assessed.
Healthcare & Medical Devices
Expertise in diagnostics, healthcare and medical devices.
Healthcare & Medical Devices
02 / Clean energy and circular materials
Developing cleaner industrial systems
Tyseley, east Birmingham
At Tyseley Energy Park in east Birmingham, the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre supports research and testing in hydrogen, energy storage, low-carbon heat and recycling. The surrounding site brings these technologies into an industrial setting, where energy supply, transport and the recovery of valuable materials can be developed together.
The challenge: Integrating cleaner energy and material recovery into working industrial systems.
Waste Management & Recycling
Specialist support for innovation in waste management & recycling.
Explore Waste Management & Recycling03 / Photonics, communications and sensing
Using light to communicate and measure
Aston University, Birmingham
Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies researches optical communications, fibre sensors and lasers at Aston University in Birmingham. Its work also extends to biomedical photonics and advanced materials, showing how the control and measurement of light can support new communications, sensing and healthcare technologies.
The challenge: Controlling and measuring light reliably for new communications and sensing applications.
Healthcare & Medical Devices
Expertise in diagnostics, healthcare and medical devices.
Healthcare & Medical DevicesTechnical expertise
People who understand the work.
Specialist knowledge in science, engineering and tax.
Client experience
What working with InnoFund feels like.
Feedback from our wider UK client base on specialist support for R&D and innovation.
“Would highly recommend, they know their stuff! They assisted greatly with an R&D claim rejection by HMRC.”
We have had a very positive experience with innofund over the last few years of working with them. They are very responsive and happy to partake in regular catch-ups and go above and beyond to share any changes to the rules for applicable expenditure and find any further applicable items on top of those provided. There have been multiple visits to site and presentations to the wider business that have received positive feedback and driven buy in across the whole site. I would be more than happy to recommend them as top reliable and supportive consultants.
Your next step
Support shaped around your work.
Talk to us about the technical challenges behind your project. We can assess the evidence and relevant support; innovation alone does not establish eligibility for tax relief.
R&D Tax Credits
Assess the technical work, evidence and potential relief behind your project.
Explore R&D Tax Credits
Capital Allowances
Review qualifying investment in premises, plant and machinery.
Explore Capital AllowancesSupporting innovation in Birmingham
We work with innovative businesses in Birmingham and the surrounding area through our connected UK team. Speak to a specialist about your project and the support available.
Talk to InnoFund
Technical expertise across the UK.