2025 predictions: the future of the Midlands tech ecosystem, from AI and skills to healthcare innovation

We asked four key players in the Midlands tech ecosystem—Yiannis Maos, CEO and Founder of TechWM; Anwen Robinson, SVP at OneAdvanced, Mark Goossens, Managing Director at IBM Technology UK, and Rupert Lyle, Investment Director at Midven—what they think is going to happen in the tech sector in the Midlands in 2025 and here are their thoughts, as they gathered for this year’s Birmingham Tech Week:

Building on a rich heritage for future innovation
Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO and Founder of TechWM, outlines a vision for the immediate future, predicting, “In the next 12 months, I think we’re going to see the evolution of the West Midlands’ core capabilities, supported and enhanced by innovations in AI, 5G, quantum, and cyber.” He discusses the potential in CreaTech, driven by the region’s strong history in manufacturing, logistics, and emerging strengths in HealthTech and aerospace. Maos emphasizes the opportunity to transform the West Midlands into a world-leading ‘Super Hub’ of creativity, leveraging investments from globally respected businesses and government commitments.

Focusing on skills development
Anwen Robinson, SVP at OneAdvanced, projects significant growth for the West Midlands tech scene, driven by its young and diverse population. She stresses the need for a stronger focus on skills development, noting a substantial skills gap in AI implementation: “93% of Midlands leaders recognise AI’s potential to improve business processes and productivity, yet only 31% have successfully implemented AI projects.” Robinson highlights the necessity for educational alignment with industry demands in AI, data science, and machine learning to secure the region’s position as a national and global tech hub, urging a closer partnership with universities: “Our universities are incubators of talent, pivotal to closing this gap.”

A pivotal year for AI growth
Mark Goossens, Managing Director at IBM Technology UK, focuses on the central role AI will play in shaping the West Midlands’ tech ecosystem. He details IBM’s contribution through initiatives like the West Midlands Digital Skills Consortium and the SkillsBuild training program, which are designed to prepare the local workforce for an AI-driven future. Goossens anticipates significant developments, saying, “We’ll see more companies and public sector organisations become AI-ready and a growing number of AI use cases being put into production.”

He underscores the importance of collaboration between businesses and educational institutions to ensure the workforce has the necessary skills for AI, data science, and machine learning. “It was encouraging to hear Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation & Technology, reaffirm the Government’s commitment to supporting investment. We look forward to more details in the coming weeks as we continue to build the talent pipeline our region needs to meet growing AI demands through public-private partnerships and policy collaboration.”

Regional healthcare focus
Rupert Lyle, Investment Director at Midven, discusses upcoming shifts in digital health driven by AI, aiming to revolutionise healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and create a more efficient and sustainable system. He highlights the Midlands as a hub of activity in areas such as AI-powered diagnostics, personalised healthcare, and remote patient monitoring, all of which are set to transform the healthcare landscape. “We’re seeing incredible potential for AI to revolutionise healthcare delivery,” says Lyle, “from speeding up diagnosis to enabling more tailored treatment options.” He further celebrates the role of regional universities and their deep collaboration with the tech industry, noting, “The Midlands’ universities are not just educational institutions; they are vital partners in our tech ecosystem, helping to propel forward our ambitions in digital health.”

Push for more diversity in leadership roles
Highlighting a crucial factor for the region’s success, Rupert Lyle underscores the importance of diversity in innovation: “We need more diversity in tech, and I firmly believe that women-led businesses will play a crucial role in shaping the future of this industry.” He adds, “I’m particularly excited about the rise of female founders in the West Midlands. They bring unique perspectives, innovative ideas, and a drive that’s truly inspiring.” Lyle emphasizes that a diverse foundation of talent and perspectives is what will drive the West Midlands’ competitive edge on the global stage, supported by active efforts from Midven to foster an inclusive environment for all entrepreneurs.

Together, these leaders predict that AI, skills, diversity, and collaboration will set the stage for the West Midlands to emerge as a leading global tech hub driven by innovation and inclusion.

Image generated by DALL·E through OpenAI’s image generation tool.