Innovate Local North West
Join us to make a difference. Innovate Local North West is for innovators in and around Lancaster, South Cumbria and beyond.
Join your local business leaders, industrial researchers, entrepreneurs, support agencies and policymakers, and share views on the strategic priorities for innovation that the pioneers in the area are developing.
This online event is for innovators in and around Lancaster, South Cumbria and beyond. Attendees will be business leaders, industrial researchers, entrepreneurs, support agencies and policymakers.
Webinar recordings are now available
This will be an event with a difference. Audience participation will not only be permitted, but positively encouraged and enabled.
We want to hear your views on the strategic priorities for innovation that the pioneers in the area are developing. This is an opportunity to learn more about them, to influence how these priorities develop, and to access further information from a team of innovation specialists.
Experts will explain how they are working to create investible growth prospects, including in:
- Electronics
- Nuclear
- Defence and cyber security
From the comfort of your home, office or working space, you will be able to contribute your views on these priorities for the local innovation economy. We will collectively discuss how we can contribute to the leadership being shown by local innovators and researchers.
Later in the day, you will have direct access to specialists who can take you through the support and funding available for innovators in and around Lancaster and South Cumbria. That includes initiatives led by the local universities, growth hubs and the national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
This event is being organised by Innovate UK KTN and Innovate UK EDGE, with strategic support from the North West Business Leadership Team, Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, Lancaster University, and the University of Cumbria.
Why attend?
- To hear keynotes from senior leaders of innovation and enterprise agencies, and from Professor Graham Wren OBE FREng FRSE; a Cumbrian who has scaled the heights of international leadership within industry and academia
- To learn about the local innovation priorities and to contribute your thoughts to help shape the plans for these growth opportunities for the area
- To identify and meet with the people from national and local support agencies and the universities who you can work with to fast-track your innovative ideas
Meet Professor Graham Wren, Keynote speaker
Meet Innovate Local North West’s Keynote Speaker Professor Graham Wren, a Cumbrian who has scaled the heights of international leadership within industry and academia.
What is Innovate Local?
The Innovate Local Programme is a suite of regional engagement events that promote Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) objectives. We work with local stakeholders to create an event that addresses regional innovation priorities and workshops to help businesses learn more about the grants and innovation process.
Our objective is to reach out to local businesses and demonstrate the types and levels of support available. In addition, to inspire them to look at innovation in their business through the presentation and panel sessions.
The Programme is now in its 5th year and Innovate UK KTN has been a trusted delivery partner throughout this time, organising and delivering the Innovate Local events.
Agenda
- 09:30 – Welcome and Keynote – innovation leadership
Welcome from Innovate UK followed by a keynote address from Professor Graham Wren OBE. Graham has over 40 years of technology business experience, including running Government laboratories and also European Chairman and MD of the world’s largest power plant systems simulation company. Raised in Cumbria, Graham has worked in Europe and the US and worked on projects globally. In this talk he will provide his views on the importance of leadership and how communities have driven forward their local opportunities.
- 10:10 – Lancaster and South Cumbria economy, enterprise and innovation
An overview from the Chief Executives of Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
- 10:30 – Networking Break
- 10:45 – The Big Innovation Themes
Ambitious provocations from local thought-leaders and clarity on how you can contribute and get behind these. The themes being covered include electronics, nuclear and security. This will be followed by an opportunity for you to tell us your views on the presented Big Innovation Themes, on the ecosystem, on how you could contribute, and on what is needed to fulfil the local potential.
- 11:55 – Networking Break
- 12:05 – Panel discussion: moving forward the innovation community
How will momentum be maintained? Responding to the contributions of delegates, maintaining local business engagement, and facilitating local leadership and drive
- 12:25 – Driving forward your own innovation initiatives
Introducing the specialist innovation support available to you through local and national support mechanisms.
- 12:45 – Networking Lunch
- 13:30 – Workshops & Drop-in Sessions
Your opportunity to meet with the Innovate UK family and the Universities of Lancaster and Cumbria on areas including funding, business growth support, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and the Innovation Canvas.
Related programme
Innovate Local
Working alongside partners, businesses and stakeholders, Innovate UK hosts this series of events to help innovative businesses maximise their success.