PhD Studentship: Digital Systems Governance for Smart, Sustainable, Green Innovation Districts: Designing a Living Lab Framework for the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information

This funding model includes a 42-month funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Tuition Fee Scholarship for up to 42-months. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice. 

Please note this specific funding opportunity is only open to applications from UK/Home fee status holders. 

Application Closing Date: Midday (UK Time) on Friday 29^th May 2026 for a start date of September 2026.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form
2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s). 

Project Title: Digital Systems Governance for Smart, Sustainable, Green Innovation Districts: Designing a Living Lab Framework for the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter

Project Lead: Dr Vahid Javidroozi

Project ID: SSG-51312099

Project Description:

The rapid emergence of innovation districts and knowledge quarters has positioned cities as key sites for economic growth, technological advancement, and sustainable development. However, these environments are inherently complex, involving multiple stakeholders, including universities, local authorities, industry partners, investors, and communities, operating across interconnected systems of infrastructure, governance, and innovation. Despite increasing investment in such districts, there remains a significant gap in understanding how digital technologies can effectively support their coordination, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.

This research aims to address this gap by developing a digital systems governance framework for smart, sustainable, Green innovation districts, using the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (BKQ) as a living laboratory. BKQ represents a unique and timely case, with strong collaboration between Birmingham City University (BCU), Birmingham City Council (BCC), and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and an ambition to become a globally recognised innovation district. At the same time, BCU’s Smart, Sustainable and Green (SSG) Cities Research Alliance provides a strong interdisciplinary foundation, integrating digital technologies, systems thinking, and place-based innovation.

The research will explore how digital platforms, urban data infrastructures, and emerging technologies such as digital twins, IoT, and AI-enabled decision-support systems can enhance governance and coordination across complex urban innovation ecosystems. It will investigate how these technologies can enable more effective integration of research, education, entrepreneurship, and place development, while supporting economic growth, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Methodologically, the project will adopt a systems-oriented and interdisciplinary approach, combining qualitative and computational methods. This will include systems modelling to understand stakeholder interactions and governance structures; case study research focused on BKQ; stakeholder engagement through interviews and participatory workshops; and exploratory development of digital concepts (e.g., data platforms or digital twin frameworks) to support decision-making and collaboration.

The rationale for undertaking this research as a PhD project lies in both its academic novelty and practical significance. Academically, the research will contribute to the emerging intersection of smart cities, digital governance, and innovation ecosystems by developing new theoretical and conceptual frameworks for digitally enabled urban governance. It will extend existing work on smart cities and innovation districts by integrating systems thinking with digital infrastructure and governance models.

Practically, the research will provide actionable insights and frameworks to support the development of BKQ, positioning it as a testbed for digital innovation and sustainable urban transformation. It will also generate transferable knowledge that can inform the design and management of innovation districts in other cities.

As a doctoral project, this research is well-suited to the depth, originality, and methodological rigour required at PhD level. It addresses a complex, real-world challenge while contributing to theory development, and provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and impact. The project will also strengthen the strategic research link between BCU’s SSG initiative and regional partners, supporting long-term collaboration and innovation.

Anticipated Findings and Contribution to Knowledge:

This research is expected to generate new knowledge at the intersection of smart cities, digital governance, and innovation ecosystems, focusing on how digital technologies can support the design and operation of complex urban innovation districts.

The anticipated findings will include a novel digital systems governance framework that explains how digital platforms, urban data infrastructures, and emerging technologies (such as digital twins and AI-enabled decision-support systems) can enable more effective coordination, decision-making, and collaboration across multiple stakeholders. The research will also identify key principles for integrating economic, environmental, and social objectives within innovation districts.

In addition, the project is expected to produce empirically grounded insights from the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (BKQ) as a living laboratory, demonstrating how digital technologies can be applied in real-world urban settings to support innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. This will include an improved understanding of the role of universities as anchor institutions in digitally enabled innovation ecosystems.

The contribution to knowledge will be both theoretical and practical. Theoretically, the research will advance current understanding of digital governance in complex urban systems by integrating systems thinking with digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem theory. Practically, it will provide transferable models and frameworks that can inform the planning and development of innovation districts in other cities.

Person Specification:

We are seeking a highly motivated and capable candidate with a strong interest in digital technologies, smart, sustainable and green cities, and urban innovation systems, who is keen to undertake interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computing, sustainability, and urban development.

Essential Criteria:

• A good undergraduate degree (minimum 2:1 or equivalent) and a Master’s degree (or near completion) in a relevant discipline such as Computer Science, Computing, Information Systems, Data Science, Software Engineering, Smart Cities, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable knowledge of digital technologies, such as data platforms, information systems, Digital Twining, IoT, AI
• Understanding of, or strong interest in, smart cities, sustainability, urban systems, or innovation ecosystems
• Ability to engage with complex systems thinking, interdisciplinary concepts, and real-world problem solving
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work with both conceptual and applied research approaches
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, including engaging with external stakeholders (e.g. local authorities, industry partners)
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage time effectively to meet research milestones
• Ability to work in various places, such as university, city councils, and other relevant organisations

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience with data analysis, modelling, or programming (e.g. Python, R, or similar tools)
• Familiarity with urban data systems and decision-support systems
• Experience of working on interdisciplinary or applied research projects, ideally involving real-world case studies
• Interest in or experience with participatory methods, stakeholder engagement, or co-design approaches
• Awareness of sustainability challenges, net zero transitions, or urban development policy
• Evidence of academic writing ability (e.g. dissertation, publication, or report writing)

This project would particularly suit candidates who are interested in applying digital and computational approaches to real-world urban challenges, and who are motivated to contribute to both academic knowledge and practical impact. 

Any Further Information: 

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of digital innovation, smart cities, and urban transformation, using the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (BKQ) as a real-world case study and living lab.

The successful candidate will be embedded within the Smart, Sustainable and Green (SSG) Research Alliance at Birmingham City University, a highly interdisciplinary research environment bringing together expertise from computing, engineering, the built environment, and social sciences. The project will also involve close engagement with regional partners, including Birmingham City Council (BCC) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), providing direct exposure to policy, planning, and innovation practice. 

The research will combine academic rigour with real-world impact, offering opportunities to contribute to ongoing strategic initiatives, participate in workshops and stakeholder engagement activities, and develop applied research outputs with tangible value for urban development and innovation ecosystems.

The candidate will benefit from:

• A supportive and interdisciplinary supervisory team
• Access to STEAMhouse, BCU’s innovation centre, and associated collaborative spaces
• Opportunities to engage with industry, policy, and community stakeholders
• Participation in research events, innovation festivals, and knowledge exchange activities
• Development of advanced skills in digital systems, data-driven decision-making, and urban innovation

This project is particularly suited to candidates who are interested in working at the intersection of technology and society, and who are motivated to apply digital approaches to address complex, real-world urban challenges.

The position provides an excellent foundation for future careers in academia, research, digital innovation, urban development, or policy, particularly in areas related to smart cities, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Contact:

If you have any questions or need further information, please use the contact details below:

• For enquiries about the project content, please contact: Dr Vahid Javidroozi, vahid.javidroozi@bcu.ac.uk
• For enquiries about the application process, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Additional Salary Information

This funding model includes a 42-month funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with UK Research & Innovation values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Tuition Fee Scholarship for up to 42-months. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.