Materials and Manufacturing Showcase
Celebrating innovation in materials and manufacturing. This event will showcase the impact of £1.75 billion investment in materials and manufacturing, offering exclusive access to groundbreaking innovations and high-growth investment opportunities.
As the UK strives to achieve its net zero goals, the role of innovative materials and manufacturing becomes increasingly crucial. This one-day event, hosted by Innovate UK, is designed to inspire, connect, and empower those driving change in these sectors. Network with industry leaders, investors and government representatives, and explore collaborations that will drive the UK’s journey to net zero. Don’t miss this chance to shape the future of these critical sectors. You will also have the chance to find out the winners of the Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) Awards 2025.
The Materials and Manufacturing Showcase will be available to watch on YouTube, with a livestream for each of the five conference rooms. Click the links below to watch each livestream (go to YouTube to join in with the live chat).
Grand Hall 2 is the main room, and will include Circularity and Materials; Welcome & Opening Keynotes; Closing Keynote & Panel Discussion; WINFI awards; and Innovate UK & ERS Hub Awards.
Watch Grand Hall 2 livestream
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The Circularity and Materials theme at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase will dive into sustainable innovation: shaping a net-zero future with advanced materials, resource-efficient manufacturing, systems for a circular economy and bio-based solutions.
Circularity & Materials Theme
- Advancing material innovation for net-zero goals
- Circular manufacturing processes for resource efficiency
- Systems to drive a circular economy
- Engineering our way to net-zero through biology
- Bio-based solutions for sustainable industries
- Recipes for Success: Engineering Biology opportunities within the food sector
Welcome Address and Opening Keynote
Hear from:
- Dr Stella Peace, Chief Executive Officer, Innovate UK
- Minister Sarah Jones, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade
- Katherine Bennet, Chief Executive Officer, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
- Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive Officer, Make UK
Closing keynote and Panel discussion
Hear from:
- Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero, Innovate UK
- Jane Nicholson, Executive Director for Research, EPSRC
- Frank Ludwig, Strategy and Programme Delivery Director, Industrial Operations, JLR & Non-executive Director, HVMC
- Claire Dorrian, Head of Sustainable Finance, LSEG
Celebrate excellence at our awards ceremony
WINFI Awards: Celebrate innovation and leadership at in the foundation industries. The Women Innovators in Foundation Industries Awards spotlights outstanding women who are shaping the future of materials and manufacturing. Find out about our nominees.
Innovate UK & ERS Hub Awards: Applaud excellence in skills provision with the Innovate UK & ERS Hub Awards. Innovate UK and the ERS Hub are celebrating excellence in industrially focused skills provision through the Best Skills Intervention Awards. These awards honour initiatives that bridge the gap between education and industry, equipping learners with practical skills for a changing economy.
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The future of UK manufacturing is digital! Explore how advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics are revolutionising the sector by:
- Enhancing efficiency, productivity, and product quality
- Streamlining operations to reduce costs
- Creating high-skilled jobs and driving economic growth
- Building a more agile and resilient manufacturing sector
By embracing these innovations, the UK is positioning itself as a global leader in the digital economy, fostering sustainability and long-term prosperity.
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Supply chains are the backbone of innovation, and this theme will explore how they’re evolving to meet future challenges. Join us to discuss:
- Cutting-edge research driving supply chain transformation
- UK strengths in building resilience and adaptability
- The role of supply chains in achieving net-zero goals
You’ll also hear from companies leading the way in:
- Creating sustainable, resource-efficient supply chains
- Integrating electrification technologies, including power conversion, e-motors, and alternative fuel cells like hydrogen and ammonia
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The Assets and Infrastructure sessions at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase will explore how new physical assets and intangible capabilities are driving the scale-up of sustainable technologies.
- Scaling Challenges: Addressing the hurdles in scaling new technologies.
- New Infrastructure: Developing the physical assets needed for sustainable industries.
- Intangible Capabilities: Building the skills and knowledge to support innovation.
- Overcoming Barriers: Real-world solutions to help scale sustainable innovations.
The Future Workforce sessions at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase will explore the future of the UK manufacturing workforce.
- Elevating Skills for a Thriving UK Future
- The Future Manufacturing Workforce
- Elevating Skills for a Thriving UK Future
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Discover International Collaboration Opportunities at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase
Join us for insights into cross-border innovation! Explore how Innovate UK, Eureka, and Horizon Europe open doors for global collaboration in materials and manufacturing.
- Hear from companies sharing their international partnership experiences
- Gain guidance from the Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point for Industry
- Connect with experts from the SMART Advanced Manufacturing Cluster
What does the future hold for UK manufacturing by 2050 and beyond? We will deep dive into cutting-edge visions of tomorrow:
- The Future is Biology: A world where biology drives manufacturing innovation, from materials to methods.
- The Future is Electric: Game-changing advances in PEMD, including recycling and recovery of valuable resources.
- The Future is Net Zero: Envisioning a future where UK manufacturers emit zero carbon and eliminate fossil fuel reliance.
Hear from leading experts, explore groundbreaking ideas, and imagine how today’s innovations will shape the world of tomorrow.
About the event
- Investor showcase: A must-attend for venture capitalists (VCs) and other investors, featuring the UK’s leading innovators and demonstrating high-growth, high-impact investment opportunities across the materials and manufacturing sectors.
- Future technology & market forecasts: Expert-led sessions on future market opportunities that highlight where the greatest return on investment will emerge, helping you stay ahead of the curve in identifying where to allocate capital.
- Celebrating success: Reflect on the achievements of Innovate UK’s past programmes, using them as a foundation to accelerate future growth and foster new investment in breakthrough technologies that will help the UK achieve its net zero ambitions.
- Cross-industry collaboration: This event is designed to bring together the best minds across industries – from manufacturing and materials to adjacent sectors – enabling the cross-pollination of ideas and sparking new innovations that will drive future success.
Why attend?
- Exclusive access to innovation: Discover the groundbreaking ideas and technologies that will shape your future of UK materials and manufacturing.
- Invest in the future: Investors will be introduced to a curated selection of the UK’s most promising companies and technologies, offering significant opportunities for return on investment.
- Collaborate across sectors: Engage with a diverse, cross-sector community to exchange ideas, forge strategic partnerships, and explore collaboration opportunities that will define your future of innovation in the UK.
- Showcase and shape the future: Companies and innovators will showcase their pioneering products and services, with opportunities for you to connect with key players in industry, investors, and future partners.
Who should attend?
- Investors: Gain access to investable companies and hear independent expert forecasts on future market growth and opportunities.
- Industry leaders: Network with pioneering companies, explore collaboration opportunities, and find potential partners for innovation programmes or product sourcing.
- Government representatives: See firsthand the power of UK innovation and how the sector is aligned with government priorities, showcasing a clear path toward delivering net zero goals.
This event will be a pivotal moment for the UK’s materials and manufacturing sectors. Join us in accelerating the journey to net zero and shaping the future of innovation, investment, and collaboration. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation that will define the next decade of growth in these critical industries.
Be part of a future that’s green, innovative, and poised for growth.
Related News
16/01/2025
Women Innovators in Foundation Industries Awards 2025 Shortlist
Discover the shortlisted nominees for the first ever awards from UKRI’s Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, EPSRC and ESRC, recognising Women Innovators in Foundation Industries. These awards are taking place at Innovate UK’s Materials and Manufacturing Showcase in London on 19 February.