Siemens and the University of Birmingham: Industry partnership
Our partnership with Siemens is engineering the future; combining research, infrastructure and education capabilities to transform how we consume energy, travel and use data for decision-making.
Driving decarbonisation in Birmingham
We are working with Siemens to harness the power of digital twin technologies to support decarbonisation of the regional energy ecosystem. Following a 2023 feasibility report that explored opportunities to use the digital twin platform to support ambitions for East Birmingham’s Green Innovation Quarter, we are driving decarbonisation across the city, in collaboration with Siemens and other university partners through the locally-led innovation accelerator, Digital InnovAtion TransfOrMative Change (DIATOMIC) Accelerator.
Learn more about the project
Fostering innovation through research talent
PhD researchers, funded by Siemens, underpin our collaboration. These studentships explore co-designed research questions that make use of data and infrastructure emerging from our existing collaborations to grow our understanding of energy use.
Digital transformation to achieve net zero
Our smart campus collaboration is the cornerstone of our partnership with Siemens. Together, we are working to create a ‘living lab’ of the University’s campuses in Birmingham and Dubai where real-time data can inform decision-making and cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research on energy systems management, energy consumption, big data and social behaviour.
Powering future mobility
Since 2018, the University and Siemens Mobility have led the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN). Our award winning partnership deepened in 2020 with an agreed new, academic framework for research collaboration to advance the industrial application of fundamental research and further the University's R&D capabilities. This work is enhancing collaboration for the good of the wider rail sector, bring together SMEs and other partners through the Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise (RaisE) and more recent £15m funding for the new Centre of Excellence for Railway Through-Life Engineering, both located in Goole.
Contributing to a global ecosystem
The University is one of seven in the UK to have a strategic partnership with Siemens as part of the Siemen’s Oxbridge Research and Innovation Ecosystem (RIE). This ecosystem underpins our collaboration and recognises mutual priorities and expertise around decarbonisation and is part of a wider global RIE network spanning 16 regions. Through our involvement, the University has priority access to the Siemens Open Innovation Platform, Siemens industrial researchers and business leaders and opportunities to build new networks and collaborative research partnerships.
Partner with us
Contact our Business Engagement and Research Impact team to explore future collaborations.