An obsession with "terminally ill" traditional manufacturing is jeopardising Birmingham's development, the city's business community has warned.
It risks being left behind by rival cities unless it ditches its "over affection" with saving manufacturing jobs that are doomed, according to members of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI).
The warnings are among responses to a survey by the BCI of its 4,000 members which are being used to plot a road map for the city's future over the next decade.
The plan, concentrating on putting forward a common view of the future on key topics such as manufacturing, science and technology, will be presented to local government decision-makers later this year.
The chamber's director of policy Jerry Blackett said: "It's an ambitious piece of work. We are trying to determine what Birmingham can and should be in ten years' time."
He said it was important the road map came from businesses rather than government.
"If we don't do it then the public sector will produce a road map and it may not be the best one for Birmingham," he said.
"We would rather lead the way for the city in the next ten years than follow public agencies, because we believe it is the business sector which will deliver growth and development for Birmingham and determine whether it flourishes or not."
Among the concerns and solutions highlighted in the survey were:
* Capitalising upon Birmingham's status as a science city n The acceptance of nano and bio-technology as the 'new manufacturing'
* The retention of intellectual property and skilled graduates from local universities
* More input from younger members of Birmingham's business community
* Clear vision and leadership to project a better image of the city
Mr Blackett said the BCI had researched, with the help of Birmingham-based development consultancy Calkas, the factors likely to influence change in the city over the next decade.
"Calkas outlined the things Birmingham is likely to be influenced by, and the factors we will feel more strongly in this city because of what we are - like a growth in the services sector and a shift from manufacturing - but to what?
"We are producing a document from the results of our research to take to the leaders of the business community and the public sector in the city this autumn, including politicians, Advantage West Midlands and the city council.
"By then we want to have involved as many business leaders as we can in building up this vision to say 'This is where we think Birmingham can be in ten years if it really gets its act together, but we are only going to get there with your support, and if you do what you are paid to do we can deliver this vision.' "
He said the last plan of this scale to be made was the Highbury initiative, between business leaders and the council, 15 years ago, which planned Brindleyplace and demolished the old Bullring.
Mr Blackett added: "The real challenge is who is going to get there first. Cities like Leeds and Manchester will also be looking to the future and making the most of similar opportunities.
"There isn't room for every city to be a world leader in nano-technology, and we've got to be good at getting there first. We are at an advantage because we are a central city and we are also very multi-cultural."
Ian Squires, president of the BCI, first called on local businesses to help develop a vision for the next ten years in his annual speech in April.
Research presented to the BCI by Calkas said key drivers of change in Birmingham in the next decade would include demographics, employment practices, global politics, scientific and technological development and the environment.
