A Strategic Gathering at MIRA Tech Park

Hosted at the cutting-edge MIRA Tech Park, the event was the fourth in a series of deep dives led by the Midlands Engine Partnership, following their 2023 Investment Potential of Midlands Clusters report. This initiative aims to bring together regional stakeholders to define opportunities, challenges, and strategies for growth. With over 50 delegates in attendance, the session provided a focused platform for discussion, featuring keynote insights from Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department for Business and Trade and MIRA’s leadership team. Their perspectives highlighted how cyber and defence are increasingly interconnected, with advances in digital security playing a crucial role in safeguarding national infrastructure and industry.

Midlands Cyber’s Role in Shaping the Conversation

As the leading regional cyber cluster, Midlands Cyber played an integral role in shaping and delivering the workshop, ensuring that the discussions aligned with real-world industry needs. The session delved into:

• The Midlands' growing capability in cyber-physical security and defence technologies.
• Investment potential within the region’s cyber and defence landscape.
• The skills and infrastructure required to sustain long-term sector growth.

By bringing together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers, the workshop articulated the region’s competitive edge and what is needed to capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Moving Forward the Midlands’ Cyber & Defence Agenda

The insights from this deep dive will feed into Midlands Engine’s broader work in promoting regional strengths and attracting investment.It is clear that the Midlands has a significant role to play in shaping the UK’s cyber and defence future - leveraging its industrial heritage, cutting-edge research, and growing digital expertise.

Midlands Cyber remains committed to supporting these initiatives, championing our region’s cyber ecosystem, and ensuring that businesses, innovators, and policymakers continue to collaborate for sustainable growth.

For more on the Midlands Engine Deep Dive series, visit the Midlands Engine’s website.