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John Bryson

Prof, Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6435-8402

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

I am interested in working with PhD students working on topics that engage with understanding the complex interrelationships between business, or organisations, in place and across space. This includes organisational and individual behaviour.

1990 …2025

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research interests

John R. Bryson (BA (Hons) TCD, PhD Leic., FAcSS, FRGS, FHEA, FeRSA) has held research and teaching posts at the Universities of St Andrews, Cambridge, Wales and most recently at the University of Birmingham where he is Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography. He was Director of the Service and Enterprise Research Unit (SERU) and founder of City-REDI.

An economic geographer whose research focusses on understanding people and organisations in place and space and the ways in which place-based adaptation occurs including understanding barriers and enablers to adaptation. He has made significant contributions to understanding and explaining the complex ways in which production is organized through space and in place and via a variety of forms of enterprise.

Much of his research has focussed on developing an integrated approach to understanding city-regions. This includes research on property development and investment, financialization, infrastructure, knowledge-intensive services, manufacturing adaptation and innovation, alternative forms of innovation including end-user innovation, urban sustainability and resilience, air quality and environmental pollution, productivity, internationalisation, service offshoring and manufacturing reshoring, and innovation systems. One of his cross-cutting research interests including understanding rapid adaptation during times of disruptive and radical change. This includes citizen-led end-user innovation and the development of alternative solutions in response to private and public sector failure. This includes research on responsible citizenship and the role that responsible citizens can play in overcoming local infrastructure failure. It also includes a focus on resilience and the management of resilience.

 

 

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Social Science, Office Development and the Regional City: Process Interest and Organisation, University of Leicester

Award Date: 18 Jul 1990

Bachelor of Social Science, Two Subject Moderatorship, Geography and Sociology , Trinity College Dublin

Award Date: 1 Jul 1985

External positions

Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands

2019 → …

Design Council, Expert Advisory Group

2016 → 2018

European Commission, Services and Internationalisation, Special Policy Committee

2013 → 2014

Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP

2013

Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP

2013 → 2016

Higher Level Group on Business Services, European Commission

2013 → 2014

Inclusive Economic Growth lead for the Bishop of Birmingham's Social Inclusion Task Process

2012 → 2014

Independent Chair of the Worcestershire Climate Change Task Group

2007 → 2017

Member of European Commissions's European Forum on Services in the Internal Market

2006 → 2007

European Association for Research on Services (RESER)

15 Sept 2004 → 15 Sept 2010

Elmhurst Ballet School in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet

1 Mar 2003 → …

Sebright Educational Foundation

1 Mar 2002 → …

ASTON REINVESTMENT TRUST

1 Jan 2000 → 30 Sept 2015

Keywords

  • G Geography (General)
  • Economic Geography
  • HB Economic Theory
  • Global Production Networks
  • HD28 Management. Industrial Management
  • HE Transportation and Communications

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  3. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  4. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  5. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  6. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  7. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  8. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  9. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  10. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  11. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  12. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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View all 241 research outputs
View all 26 projects
  • 2 Hosting an invited lecturer
  • 1 Guest lecture or Invited talk
View all 80 press/media