Why visit

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of Materials Research Exchange (MRE2026). This flagship event for advanced materials research and innovation brings together the community of researchers and innovators and provides an excellent opportunity for manufacturers and end users to gain an excellent understanding of what the UK can offer in terms of advancements in materials research and innovation in one place.

Opportunities to showcase advanced materials developments to panels of investors will once again be a core part of MRE.

What’s on

Prepare to be amazed as MRE 2026 delves into a diverse range of materials, from critical minerals, biomaterials, textiles, polymers, metals, glass, 2D materials, composites, sustainable, smart and functional materials, and more. These materials are not just theoretical concepts but critical building blocks for real-world applications, including energy, space, construction, packaging, marine, automotive, and low carbon technologies.

MRE is a catalyst for progress. Through cross-cutting presentations, thought-provoking panel discussions, sustainable product design concepts and an investor showcase brimming with potential, MRE fosters an environment of knowledge-sharing and cross-sector interactions. MRE is where the UK’s research and innovation excellence in materials meets the world of UK product manufacturers, designers and forward-thinking investors.

This is your chance to connect with the materials community to collaborate, exchange ideas, and adopt the latest advances in materials science.

Advanced Materials for the Future Conference

Returning in its 12th year, MRE’s Advanced Materials for the Future. Full of new insights about material research and innovations taking place across the UK.

Find targeted seminars on a range of cutting-edge areas and across several sectors. This event enables collaboration between industry and academic/research communities.

Investor Showcase

If you are an investor, we will have at least 3 Investor Showcase sessions where you can see first-hand how innovation converges with opportunity. Join us to discover emerging and enabling new materials, spotlighting materials research from pre-spinout ventures from UK universities and innovations by established growth-stage materials companies.

Who attends?

MRE brings an opportunity to network with over 1500 delegates from the materials community: researchers, academics, industry, government, investors and innovators from various fields to explore and discuss cutting-edge developments in materials science and technology. This is a unique opportunity to witness the UK’s world-leading capability in new materials discovery, development and application, and meet with potential collaborators. The event is designed to enable closer collaboration between industry, investors, designers and the materials research and innovation community.

For those interested in attending as an exhibitor, please do not register at this stage. We are finalising our exhibitor packages and hope to make these available very soon. In the meantime, you can register your interest in exhibiting at the Materials Research Exchange 2026 via a short expression of interest form, currently available on the registration page.