Ignite Labs: Hydrogen

Welcome to Hydrogen Ignite Labs – a dynamic programme that ignites innovation, empowers growth, and transforms businesses.

Join us for an inspiring journey of discovery, learning and growth, as we explore opportunities for innovation across the Hydrogen landscape and how to exploit them using the power of design.

This Ignite Labs programme is delivered by Innovate UK Business Connect in partnership with the Energy Systems Catapult and the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII).

Increasing the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel source is key to the government’s Net Zero strategy and one which will mobilise additional public and private investment of £20 – £30 billion into the hydrogen sector. Although the pipeline of projects is strong, a significant gap to net zero remains to turn projects from concepts into actual investments and commercialised solutions. To address this gap, hydrogen must become more accessible, understandable, and usable by various stakeholders, including consumers, industry professionals, and policymakers.

Delivering net zero will require multiple energy vectors and technologies that are able to service our diverse and evolving energy needs. It will also require a holistic approach that places the consumer at the heart of the transition.

To drive demand, the UK hydrogen supply chain needs to show it can consistently deliver quality, green hydrogen, which is ultimately cost-effective, at scale. However, the low adoption rates of offtake agreements suggest the sector will face challenges in building trust between investors and consumers. These barriers to hydrogen adoption represent a need for a human centred approach that acknowledges the interactions between technology, people and systems.

This opportunity is aimed at addressing the needs of UK businesses within the hydrogen supply chain (production, storage, distribution, and end use), as well as those looking to diversify into the sector. Available to companies of any size looking to innovate towards a profitable and sustainable business model, this programme aims to help businesses overcome barriers, understand and improve decision making, maximise design capabilities, and expand market engagement.

The Hydrogen Ignite Labs programme is designed for UK businesses operating within the hydrogen supply chain and end users in:

• Manufacturing
• Transport
• Energy
• Agriculture

This programme will leverage human-centred design approaches to increase your understanding of offtake agreements and value chain mapping to enable you to make more informed decisions in your business.

By attending the Lab, delegates will gain access to invaluable knowledge and networks whilst receiving training on how to use robust innovation processes to increase the likelihood of success for hydrogen technology innovation projects and businesses.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Articulate a challenge that your business faces that could be addressed with an innovative intervention.
• Network with a community of UK hydrogen supply chain technology businesses and end users in manufacturing, transport, energy and agriculture industries.
• Plan projects through structured innovation workshops run by a professional Design and Innovation agency.
• Discover the latest hydrogen funding opportunities and meet energy investors, enabling you to unlock collaborative new business opportunities, increase Hydrogen supply chain activities, and become a leading force in the UK Hydrogen economy.
• Build a community with other innovators from both inside and outside of your sector.
• Join the Hydrogen Supply Chain Directory and discover the 190+ organisations across the UK involved in various stages of the hydrogen supply chain.

The programme will run from 03/10/2024 – 12/11/2024
Please note that the Hydrogen Ignite Labs programme has been carefully curated for individuals who can commit to attending across the 6-week period. As spaces are limited, priority will be given to those who can attend the majority of events.

What is the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative?

The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) is a trusted group of organisations working with industry, government, and academia to create an investible, globally competitive hydrogen technology and services sector, here in the UK.

HII is committed to our vision of UK technology powering the global hydrogen economy, transforming our industry into a Net Zero Powerhouse. The mission is supporting UK industry to anchor high-value jobs, boost resilience and drive decarbonisation by accelerating the development of critical technologies and supply chains for the fast-growing hydrogen economy. HII partners NCC, AMRC, Energy Systems Catapults are involved in Ignite labs.

Who is Magnetic?

Magnetic is a design innovation agency that will be offering a number of exciting design thinking workshops. These workshops are designed to search for unmet needs and help build a human centred approach to design and innovation that benefits your business, people (customers, partners or employees) and the planet.

Introduction to Ignite Labs: Hydrogen – Birmingham

09:30-13:00 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: WORKSHOP
The inaugural event sets the tone, introducing the programme and facilitating connections. Expect insightful talks, interactive sessions, and a roadmap for the transformative journey.

What to expect:

• Introduction to the Ignite Labs programme in-person at Energy Systems Catapult office in Birmingham.
• Design for Policy keynote presentation.
• Exploration of innovation and design concepts.

Site Visit: Tyseley Energy Park in collaboration with HyDEX, ERA and Tyseley Energy Park – Birmingham

13:00-15:30 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: SITE VISIT
This site visit is delivered in partnership with HyDEX and Energy Research Accelerator.

The program is expected to Help businesses understand where they fit in the net zero solution.

What do businesses need to be thinking about to deliver the net zero solution

Enjoy a meal from a hydrogen kitchen, where you can taste the difference of hydrogen cooking, followed by thought provoking presentations from industry leaders and a comprehensive tour of Tyseley Energy Park.

What to expect:

• Guided tour of facility.
• Experience a meal created in a hydrogen kitchen.
• Keynote presentations from businesses in the UK supply chain that have used human centered insights to overcome business challenges.

User Research Workshop – Birmingham

09:30-16:00 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: WORKSHOP
Unlock the power of design in innovation and get hands-on experience with user research, understanding business contexts, identifying needs, and creating detailed personas to drive user-centred innovation.

Dive into innovation and design concepts, exploring frameworks such as the double diamond model, setting the stage for creative thinking.

What to expect:

• Understanding frameworks like the double diamond model.
• Group discussions and real-world case studies.
• Comprehensive understanding of your business’ context.
• Open discussions to identify needs and goals.
• Guidance in creating detailed personas and empathy mapping.

Problem Definition Workshop: National Composites Centre – Bristol

08:45-16:45 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: WORKSHOP
The Energy Systems Catapult will provide insights on ‘the whole-systems approach’ to accelerating hydrogen innovation in the UK Market. Magnetic will then facilitate the problem definition workshop, one outcome of which might be nascent ideas that specifically resolve a real customer problem from your business.

Please note that this workshop session will lead into the site visit tour at the National Composites Centre and IAAPS.

What to expect:

• Problem statement formulation.
• Exploration of real customer problems that affect your business.

Site Visit: National Composites Centre and IAAPS – Bristol

08:45-16:45 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: SITE VISIT
These visits are opportunities to see innovative technology projects and speak with organisations that have led and supported successful innovations in the hydrogen sector.

Please note that the site tours will follow and lead into the problem definition workshop.

The main output of the programs are as follows:

• Understanding of different ways of approaching and solving business and technical challenges.
• Evolving an organisation in an ambiguous environment – demand/policy fluctuations, importance of understanding customer needs to develop.
• Teach businesses to navigate uncertainty in the market conditions, agility in fluctuating market conditions and policy environments.
• Want cohort to be more resilient and show how other companies have been resilient with changing stakeholder needs

What to expect:

• Problem statement formulation.
• Exploration of real customer problems that affect your business.

Online Workshop – Ecosystem Mapping

10:00-13:00 GMT – ONLINE WORKSHOP – ZOOM
This online virtual workshop will help you unpack the needs of stakeholders and service users in the UK’s Hydrogen Value Chain and translate them into innovation opportunities for your business. The session will take you through a series of practical exercises that will show you how to translate initial ideas into a portfolio of potential projects.

What to expect:

• Present alongside your cohort on stakeholder research.
• Facilitated break-out groups for system mapping.
• Feedback sessions and exploration of real-world examples.

Online Workshop – Creative Ideation

10:00-13:00 GMT – ONLINE WORKSHOP – ZOOM
This online virtual workshop is designed to help you shape your business proposition. You will be given the opportunity to prepare a pitch and present to a panel of senior stakeholders. Participants will be provided with specialist feedback on their business pitches.

What to expect:

• Pitch, alongside your cohort, on a business proposition.
• Specialist business pitch feedback.
• Guidance in creative ideation process.

Site Visit: AMRC Factory 2050 – Sheffield

09:30-16:00 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: SITE VISIT
This site visit will explore how SMEs in the hydrogen sector can successfully navigate industry challenges and fluctuating levels of demand. The main learning areas are as follows:

• How are businesses going to take what they have into the delivery stage.
• How to design products and services going into the future.
• How to design approach to market – should they manufacture or a partnership for components.
• Exploring the hydrogen system – how does the cohort fit and are they going to need to be agile in certain areas to experience success in the market.
• Hear from industry leaders who have successfully navigated barriers and challenges in the sector.

What to expect:

• Tour of AMRC Factory 2050 Centre.
• Presentations from AMRC and ITM Power.

Online Workshop – Innovation Canvas

10:00-13:00 GMT – ONLINE WORKSHOP – ZOOM
In this online virtual workshop you will have the opportunity to use a tool that has created value for over 11,000 innovation leaders across the UK. The Innovation Canvas is a simple but effective tool which helps businesses commercialise product, service, process or management innovations.

What to expect:

• Enables 1:1 or team conversations to evaluate existing projects or inform funding applications.
• Identifies urgent challenges, prioritises actions to address them, and reduces risk.

Pitch Sessions and Close – Port of Leith, Edinburgh

09:30-16:00 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: PITCH PRESENTATIONS & CLOSING SESSION
This session will be in combination with the Port of Leith site tour.

This is the grand finale held at Malmaison Hotel, where you will get an opportunity to present your projects, share insights, and celebrate the transformative journey. It will also be a chance to network and reflect on the collective impact of the programme.

This session date may be subject to change but we will keep delegates informed.

What to expect:

• Pitch your ideas and concepts to senior stakeholders in the hydrogen community.
• Final discussions and insights.
• Celebration, networking, and reflections on the journey.

Site Visit in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise – Port of Leith, Edinburgh

09:30-16:00 GMT – IN-PERSON EVENT: SITE VISIT
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What to expect:

• Tour of Port of Leith site.
• Network with a community of UK hydrogen supply chain technology businesses.
• Presentations from industry leaders.