City University to open virtual reality tech hub

A NEW £3.4 million virtual reality and tech hub will open in Birmingham city centre.

Birmingham City University (BCU) has secured new funding to support the creation of the hub at its STEAMhouse facility in Digbeth which opened in the former South & City College building last year.

The funding will be used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment such as virtual reality development packs, computer hardboards and the latest design software while a new digital design suite will also be opened at the site.

Funding has been secured from the European Structural and Investment Funds, Birmingham City University and Eastside Projects.

The project, due to open in summer 2020, will provide training for businesses on emerging technologies and provide a platform for the development of new ideas and the creation of start-up companies.

The name STEAMhouse is a reference to mixing arts with the traditional STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and maths.

The £5 million phase one of STEAMhouse contains co-working space for businesses, artists and academics and is aimed at enabling small companies and artists to work together on new projects and business ideas.

A second, £60 million phase is scheduled to open in 2021 at the former Belmont Works cycle factory site, in Cardigan Street, next to BCU’s city centre campus.

It will house a programme called ‘STEAMincubator’ which will provide new spaces, facilities and collaboration opportunities for startups and a new home for BCU’s school of computing.