Campus celebrates topping out ceremony

Bruntwood SciTech has marked the topping out of Birmingham Health Innovation Campus (BHIC) with an event that celebrates the next milestone in advancing world-class infrastructure being developed.

The topping out ceremony followed Prime Minister Liz Truss and the former chancellor of the exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng touring the new £45m development during last week 's Conservative Party Conference.

The event included a keynote speech from Chris Smith, presenter of the BBC 's 'The Naked Scientist ' podcast and consultant virologist and lecturer at Cambridge University.

Due to be completed in September 2023 and led by main contractor John Sisk and Son, No.1 BHIC will provide 133,000 sq ft of specialist lab and office space for innovative life science and digital healthcare companies.

It has already been confirmed to be the future home of the University of Birmingham 's Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) which will provide opportunities for pioneering R&D start-ups to collocate and collaborate with scale up and larger life science businesses.

Dr Kath Mackay, director of life sciences at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “It has been fantastic to come together in such a celebratory way to reflect on the success of the UK life sciences sector.

“The reception this development is receiving from local and national government shows just how much appetite there is for regional centres of excellence that drive prosperity and support local communities. ”

Professor Adam Tickell, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Birmingham, said: “Our vision and ambition for this site was a dedicated health and life sciences park to enhance Birmingham 's life sciences expertise.

“Through our collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech, our vision is becoming a reality. This building demonstrates our dedication to providing a vibrant space to encourage new ways of thinking, encouraging interdisciplinary work and exploring new opportunities. ”