Meet the Industrial Technologies and Manufacturing KTM

The Innovate UK KTN Meet the Industrial Technology & Manufacturing Team article series is an opportunity to find out more about the specialists within the team, and how they can help you find funding competitions as well as support you in developing your technology and organisation’s capabilities.

This month, Dr. Luqman Hakim, Industrial Technology & Manufacturing Knowledge Transfer Manager (KTM) at Innovate UK KTN, shares what his work involves.

What does your job role involve?

“Firstly, I am a matchmaker. I assist all organisations including SMEs, start-ups, large companies, academia, private firms, and government agencies in their innovation journey. My focus is on the diverse manufacturing sectors. I initially try to understand their business profiles and needs and then match the companies with other potential commercial and academic collaborators. At the same time, I also direct them towards relevant funding opportunities. Secondly, I am also a digital transformation enabler. On top of the matchmaking process, I help companies adopt digital technologies to improve their productivity.”

What does a typical day/week look like at KTN?

“Each week presents a different set of challenges which means they equally serve as great opportunities for me to learn. Within Innovate UK KTN, I primarily work with my own team and other cross-sector teams to support the delivery of key projects including Driving the Electric Revolution, Analysis for Innovators (A4I), Made Smarter Innovation Network, and Innovation Alley 2022. Other than these, I usually meet many company representatives and attend relevant conferences to keep myself up to date on all of the latest technological news whilst building more important connections.”

What’s your biggest priority at the moment?

“I recently joined the team which is providing me with a fresh perspective on everything. Therefore, I am now identifying critical workflows that can be streamlined whilst I am working on my team projects.”

What upcoming technology advancements/innovations are you excited about in your sector/industry/area of work?

“Implementation of digital technologies in the traditional manufacturing sectors and ensuring the workforce is ready to use them. Food & drink producers are showing good progress in this space. The whole supply chain, starting from the farmers all the way to the consumers are embracing digital technologies. Healthier products are becoming increasingly available in the market. On top of these, the emergence of sustainable vertical farming, precision agriculture, blockchain for traceability, and smart food expiry sensors all contribute to making the new digital world more efficient, secure, and cost-effective.”

Tell us about something exciting you’re working on?

“Interviewing SMEs that have been accepted into Innovation Alley 2022 and understanding how each company’s growth journey differs. Some are ready to scale up globally, while others are playing it safe, sustainably expanding, and focusing on their UK market. One thing everyone had in common was that all the innovators I spoke with are heavily focused on building a good product or service that customers can greatly benefit from using.”

What is your previous work experience?

“I began my international career journey as a technologist in a large energy company in Malaysia. Then, I became a Marketing Engineer for a commodity chemicals manufacturer. I was responsible for trading between South East Asian clients. Earlier this year, I completed my PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London. My postgraduate research focuses on the development of functional materials for environmental solutions. Thereafter, I remained in academia as a graphene researcher prior to joining KTN a few months ago.”

Contact us

Make sure to visit the manufacturing as well as industrial technology sections of the Innovate UK KTN website to find out more about how the team can support your business.