The West Midlands has been named one of the top three most innovative places in Europe for its work in the technology sector.
European Innovation Council (EIC) has placed the region, alongside Turin in Italy and Espoo in Finland, in its shortlist for this year's European Capital of Innovation Award, also known as iCapital.
The award, in its tenth year, recognises towns and cities that connect local people with academics and the private and public sector to improve their wellbeing while at the same time boosting innovation.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Lisbon in the coming weeks while previous recipients include Barcelona, Amsterdam and Athens.
West Midlands Combined Authority is leading the region's bid.
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Regional Mayor Richard Parker said: "It's a privilege to represent the West Midlands on such an important international stage.
"Our region's creativity and drive for innovation are helping to solve real-world challenges, improve lives and boost our economy.
"This recognition highlights the impact of the incredible work happening here and I'm excited to see how we continue to lead the way, creating opportunities and making a difference for communities across the West Midlands and beyond."
The mayor announced the nomination for European Capital of Innovation at the launch of 'It Starts Here'.
This is a new destination promotion campaign led by the West Midlands Growth Company with the aim of transforming perceptions of the region, focusing on its work in innovation.
Key to the shortlisting by the EIC is the £33 million Innovation Accelerator.
This is providing businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers with support and funding to help commercialise their new and emerging products and technologies in fields such as clean tech and med tech.
The combined authority also recently started working on the region's new Investment Zone which it says is capable of driving more than £5 billion of investment and creating 30,000 new jobs.
The recently launched West Midlands Innovation Board is also working with the region's innovators and inventors to help them grow ideas and businesses.
Chairman Mike Wright said: "Being named as one of three finalists in this year's European iCap competition is a tremendous testament to the incredible work happening across the Birmingham and West Midlands innovation ecosystem.
"It reflects not only the region's growing innovation and research and development impact across a number of emerging clusters but also leveraging the diversity of the region.
"It is a recognition of our competitive standing across Europe and will hopefully accelerate even more activity, investment and business growth in innovation, research and development across the region."
Neil Rami, chief executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, added: "The West Midlands has long been at the vanguard of solutions to the world's grand challenges.
"Home to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's fastest-growing tech sector - valued at £15.3 billion - and highest number of companies in emerging tech outside of London, innovation is now the number one catalyst for ambitious international investors with their eyes on expansion.
"This prestigious award will help to put the West Midlands on the map for global businesses developing the technologies of the future."
