Welcome to the Brussel’s International Office
For nearly 40 years, the city of Birmingham has had a historical presence in the heart of the European Community.
Birmingham was the first UK city to set up an office in Brussels back in 1986. Over the past several decades we have helped our partners in securing millions of euros in European funding and continue to do so.
With a long and successful track record of engagement in Europe, as well as leading on European funding, Birmingham, through its Brussels office, also provides advice and guidance to the Birmingham Strategic Alliance members, council departments and external partners on Horizon Europe opportunities.
Our Brussels Office provides the following support:
It is our mission to develop opportunities for all our citizens and promote the benefits of Birmingham and the West Midlands internationally.
Our international networks are essential to reach our objectives. The following are the main networks we work with:
Birmingham was one of the six founder cities that initiated the establishment of Eurocities that has grown to the largest network of European cities representing over 200 large cities more than 150 million people across 38 countries. The City Council was longstanding member of the Executive Committee of the network.
Birmingham-West Midlands city region was a proud founding member of the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) in 2001 and since then we have been active particularly in the Smart cities and Energy working groups. ERRIN offers the opportunity to the Birmingham-West Midlands innovation ecosystem actors to network with more than 120 likeminded regional ecosystems.
Aston University and Birmingham City Universities are affiliated to UnILiON, the Universities Informal Liaison Offices Network, via the Brussels office. The network represents more than 160 universities focussing on sharing early intelligence, facilitating project partnership building and shaping future research priorities at European level.
Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC) is a global network helping cities adopt open digital solutions through shared standards. It promotes interoperability and collaboration to scale smart city services. Birmingham is a member, working with other cities to improve digital public services and urban innovation. Through OASC, it contributes to shaping a more connected and data-driven urban future.
Our involvement in the Commonwealth Association, and our matching international strategy with them in Europe, sets Birmingham apart as a leading, influential partner. Birmingham continues to be active, and committed, to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF); a framework partnership agreement with the European Commission to support and strengthen local government and to implement the EC Communication on local government and development.
We work with a range of organisations to achieve our goal, including:
Birmingham is as committed as ever to our trusted European partners and dedicated to working closely on areas of mutual interest.
Birmingham seeks city-to-city collaboration in order to lay the groundwork for practical areas of cooperation and secure common ground around common aims, specifically in the context of three objectives:
Our global presence is ensured through the Birmingham Strategic Alliance, result of the teamwork of several institutions in Birmingham.
Birmingham has long recognised the value of working closely with our European and International counterparts and has invested decades into building close relationships with cities across the globe, from Leipzig to Lyon, Frankfurt to Milan, and Chicago to Johannesburg
Do you have a question about our projects or an idea you’d like to bring to life?
Send us a message and our Brussels Office will be in touch with you shortly.
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