Overview
Welcome to the Innovate UK Ignite Labs Industrial Decarbonisation (efuels) programme!
The six-week Ignite Labs Industrial Decarbonisation (e-fuels) series is designed to embed design thinking, enable innovation and collaboration in the sector while helping organisations refine their business cases. This series is open to all organisations working within the e-fuel space and those looking to switch to low carbon fuels.
To attend events in this series, please register for a place by 14 September.
Ignite labs Industrial Decarbonisation (e-fuels) is delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Sustainable Ventures, University of Sheffield Energy Innovation Centre and other key supporters across England, Scotland and Wales.
About the series
Industrial Decarbonisation (efuels) Ignite Labs
Aimed at organisations working in the e-fuels sector, the six-week Ignite Labs Industrial Decarbonisation series is designed to facilitate fuel switching as a means to support industrial decarbonisation. This series is open to all organisations already working within the e-fuel sector and those looking to switch to e-fuels.
This series provides an avenue to examine both the challenges and opportunities associated with decarbonisation, enabling you to accurately define the underlying issue prior to dedicating resources toward developing an effective solution.
Who is this series for?
The Ignite Lab programme is designed for businesses that see an opportunity to innovate but need to refine and test their embryonic idea for their fuel switching product or service before investing in further development.
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 industrial decarbonisation innovation projects and businesses.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Unlock access to a range of exciting design thinking tools, methods and processes that will support you in developing a robust plan for effective innovation activity
- Identify opportunities for an innovative intervention through a range of site visit tours, design thinking workshops and industry presentations
- Have a professional design in innovation agency take you through an exciting process of customer needs discovery, idea generation and idea testing
- Leverage a human centred approach to innovation to gain a deeper understanding of business challenges and spot opportunities to derive more value from ideas
- Discover the latest industrial decarbonisation funding opportunities and meet energy investors, enabling you to unlock collaborative new business opportunities
- Build a community with other innovators from both inside and outside of your sector
Programme of events
Introduction to Ignite Labs: Industrial Decarbonisation and Systems Thinking Workshop
14 October 2025 – 09:00-17:00 – In-person workshop – Deeside, Wales
The launch event sets the tone for the Lab, introducing the programme and facilitating connections. Expect insightful talks, interactive sessions, presentations from organisations in Deeside and tours of the sites in Wales.
Industrial Decarbonisation – Design for Policy
20 October 2025 – 09:00-17:00 – Online workshop
Policy Design is a creative and user centred approach to problem-solving that can be applied to developing, testing and validating policies, strategies, processes and consultations. This half day workshop will apply design approaches to policy challenges.
Industrial Decarbonisation – User Research Workshop
22 October 2025 – 09:30-16:30 – In-person workshop – London
This full day user research workshop will explore innovation opportunities in industrial decarbonisation and has been designed for businesses with an interest in developing innovative solutions to the many challenges and opportunities associated with the clean energy transition. Participants will gain hands-on experience in gathering insights and translating them into actionable design challenges.
Industrial Decarbonisation – Problem Definition Workshop
27 October 2025 – 10:00-14:00 – Online workshop
This half day workshops builds on learning gained in the systems thinking and user research workshops, to allow participants to clearly define and articulate specific problems they seek to address.
Industrial Decarbonisation – Creative Ideation and Innovation Exchange Workshop with AMRC Site Tour
4 November 2025 – 09:00-17:00 – In-person workshop – Sheffield
EIC e-fuels workshop followed by an Innovation Exchange workshop site and tour. The afternoon is devoted to a Creative Ideation Workshop: a half day interactive workshop encouraging creative thinking and idea generation. Participants will generate radical and disruptive ideas then refine down to a set of concepts and interventions to test.
Industrial Decarbonisation – Innovation Canvas
11 November 2025 – 10:00-13:00 – Online workshop
In this workshop led by Innovation and Design expert, John Bound, 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.
Ignite Labs: Industrial Decarbonisation – Closing Event & Innovation Capability Pitch – Grangemouth
19 November 2025 – 09:00-17:00 – In-person session – Grangemouth
The grand finale offers you the opportunity to showcase your projects to a panel of senior stakeholders, share valuable insights, and celebrate the transformative journey you’ve undertaken. It’s also a unique chance to network, reflect on the collective achievements of the programme, and highlight the impact of your work.
Please note that the Ignite Labs: Industrial Decarbonisation 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.
The expression of interest form includes selection questions that will be used to gauge suitability for the programme.
There are no fees associated with this programme; however, participants will be expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation.