Innovate UK invites organisations keen to engage in Horizon Europe Cluster 4 and/or Cluster 5 topics, to express their interest in attending an in-person Inward Multilateral Brokerage event just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland this 3rd September. UK organisations, alongside EU organisations from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain are encouraged to apply.

With CL4 calls opening this autumn, Innovate UK, the Horizon Europe Northern Ireland Contact Point (NICP) Network, Queen’s University Belfast, Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) are partnering to connect European partners and advance the development of collaborative proposals in CL4 as well as CL5.

The Programme Agenda will include pitches, and pre-arranged meetings involving UK and EU delegates based on their interested WP 2027 topic(s) in scope. AMIC will also host an on-site tour, enabling delegates to informally network with each other whilst exploring AMIC’s state-of-the-art facilities.

Northern Ireland offers an ideal setting for CL4: Industry and Cluster 5: Mobility collaboration, with strong manufacturing capabilities and a vibrant innovation ecosystem spanning advanced technologies and digitalisation. The region is a significant player in manufacturing and aerospace, with a strong track record of industry-led innovation. Northern Ireland also benefits from being located both within the UK and on the island of Ireland: a position which enables and encourages cross-border collaboration and engagement with national and international partners alike.

The event will be hosted at the newly opened AMIC Factory of the Future, a 10,500m² state-of-the-art open access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre. Building on over 50 years of sustained innovation and industry support, AMIC provides a specialised environment and UK-leading research capability in smart design, sustainable polymers & composites, digital factory and nanotech & photonics, all underpinned by academic excellence.

Alongside this, Queen’s University Belfast is a leading UK Russell Group university with a reputation for world‑class, impactful research and innovation. Its engineering and industrial research spans advanced manufacturing, aerospace, materials, and digital technologies, with a focus on translating research into practical solutions through close collaboration with industry. Queen’s plays a central role in regional and international innovation ecosystems, working with partners across academia, business, and government to address global challenges and support economic growth. Queen’s brings extensive experience in research collaborations internationally and across the EU, leading to impactful global research.

This event is delivered by Innovate UK, the NICP Network, Queen’s University Belfast and AMIC, with support from Intertrade Ireland.

Open to UK and Select EU delegates

Innovate UK welcomes participation from SMEs, larger organisations, academia, RTOs, and other eligible organisations in:

• UK
• Up to five delegates from each of the following eight EU Member States: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain

The visits aim to create a high value environment for forming consortia to shape competitive Horizon Europe proposals. We aim to have 40 UK and 40 EU participants overall.

Travel and accommodation costs covered for UK delegates

To remove barriers to participation and ensure a diverse and broad representation, Innovate UK will reimburse travel and accommodation costs up to £200 for all UK delegates, however subsistence will not be covered. Lunch will be provided to attendees on the day of the event.

Interested EU applicants are encouraged to contact their National Contact Point for information on their national travel subsidy schemes, or additional support which could facilitate their travel to the UK.

Location

This event will be held at The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Factory of the Future, Global Point Ave, Newtownabbey, BT36 5TB, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. View the location on Google Maps here.