Announced in June this year, Birmingham’s Digital District will bring together the innovative, learning and creative sectors in the Eastside area of the city through the development of a next generation high-speed broadband infrastructure.

This seminar will provide an early opportunity for policy makers and stakeholders from Birmingham and the West Midlands to quiz other  major European cities that are further along the journey in developing their own digital district. This dialogue will inform Birmingham’s policy thinking and ideas as the city embarks upon developing its own digital district.

The seminar will consider questions such as:

• What are the critical success factors of a digital district?
• What does a digital district look and feel like elsewhere?
• How have digital districts been used to complement the success of established creative quarters?
• What has been the experience of digital districts in the recession and what role do they play in boosting economic growth?
• How have local authorities in Europe worked with stakeholders such as service providers, SMEs, universities and the local community?
• How can Birmingham learn from, and use, the experiences of other European cities?

This is your opportunity to find out about digital districts elsewhere in Europe, to put your questions to our speakers and to contribute to the debate.

The event will feature speakers from:

• Berlin
• Barcelona
• Birmingham City Council
• Digital Birmingham
• Birmingham City University
• University of Birmingham
• Fazeley Studios

Date:              Wednesday 14 October

Time:             Arrival from 9:15. Seminar begins at 9:30 finishing at 13:00 followed by a networking

                      lunch.

Location:        Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SE. Located fifteen

                       minutes’ walk away  from New Street station

Who should attend?

The principal audiences are digital and economic development policy makers from public authorities in Birmingham as well as the wider West Midlands region. Other stakeholders (from SMEs, universities, the local community etc) with an interest in the development of the Birmingham Digital District will also find this event particularly relevant. We look forward to seeing you on the day.

Registration

The seminar is free to attend but places are limited and attendance is by advance online registration only. To register please visit: http://digitaldistrictsineurope.eventbrite.com

The event is being organised by:

• Birmingham City Council
• Birmingham City University
• EU’s Creative Metropole project.

It is being held in association with:

• Digital Birmingham
• Hello Digital
• EU Open Days
• 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation
• West Midlands in Europe

With the support of:

• Fazeley Studios