Ignite Labs: Site Visit - Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Sheffield
With a full day agenda, including a tour of the state-of-the-art Factory 2050, this closing event of the lab focuses on opportunities, funding and support. The day will be a door opener to the innovation funding and support ecosystem from across UKRI.
Delegates will meet representatives from the Catapults, funding agencies and other bodies who will be able to point them in the direction of grant competitions, key networks and collaborative R&D opportunities.
What are Ignite Labs?
Ignite Labs – a brand new series of events developed to share and exchange knowledge and best practice in sustainable textile and circular systems, with coordinated visits to highly innovative companies, organisations and facilities based across the UK.
This Innovate UK programme consists of in-person visits that will be supported by a suite of online workshops and presentations, introducing Lab participants to the very best design innovation approaches, thought leadership, and case studies, to help them refine their strategies and project ideas. They will receive help and support in collaborative working and partnership building, as well as learning more about routes to grant funding, competition guidance, and application development.
About the Ignite Lab Series
Who are the Ignite Labs events for?
We are looking to engage textile manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and recyclers of any size – taken to encompass not only clothing and fashion, but soft furnishings, mattresses, sportswear, and leisure equipment – who are in and around the cities of Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, and Huddersfield, and who wish to innovate towards a profitable, more sustainable and more circular business model. They might have a defined project idea, but are struggling to access design innovation expertise and knowledge; they might not see how they can future-proof in support of net zero policies and agendas; they might wish to engage more deeply with the developing circular industry ecosystem in their area to help them grow.
Ignite Lab attendees will hear from experts in the field, tour key sites of innovation activity, and receive targeted support in the development of ideas and projects which will help ensure their sustainable growth. These events are for start-ups looking to use strategic design to help brilliant ideas get to the right market and for established businesses looking to reposition or expand their offering.
This programme of events looks to capture best practices and support knowledge exchange in this area, exploring design-led innovation approaches to sustainability and circular business models that will help UK textile businesses meet Net Zero goals while also achieving sustainable growth.
Ignite Lab attendees will hear from experts in the field, tour key sites of innovation activity, and receive targeted support in the development of ideas and projects which will help ensure their sustainable growth in the face of considerable 21st Century pressures.