Innovation Catalyst

Creating prosperity in place

About the Catalyst

The Innovation Catalyst is a research-informed platform from Lancaster University’s Management School that connects academic expertise with real-world, place-based challenges to drive innovation. Bringing together businesses, researchers, and key stakeholders, it uses a flexible, challenge-led approach to move rapidly from insight to implementation through structured, collaborative sessions.

Participants define priorities, co-develop evidence-based solutions, and support their delivery in real contexts. Beyond accelerating innovation within existing systems, the Catalyst aims to enable system-level change and market-making—creating the conditions for new opportunities and innovations to emerge and scale.

Current Catalysts

Data Catalyst

A collaborative initiative designed to help Preston businesses unlock the full potential of their data
AI Digital Catalyst

A collaborative initiative designed to help Westmorland businesses gain competitive edge through digital innovation
Nuclear Catalyst

Taskforce collaborations for north west businesses to collaborate and develop new low carbon innovations for a prosperous and sustainable future.

Benefits to your Business

The Innovation Catalyst is designed for influential business leaders to innovate, develop and become a part of a regional ecosystem at the forefront of innovation for their sector and place.

Develop your leadership

Develop your own leadership through critical thinking, reflection, collaboration, generating greater capacity and confidence.

Plan for the future

Future proof your business in the current challenging and changing environment.

Join a peer-network

Work with like-minded leaders to tackle key challenges in your sector/place and mobilise new ideas through collective experimentation, testing, prototyping and innovation.

Access key regional networks and resources

Collaborate and engage with key stakeholders to accelerate idea creation while accessing cutting edge research, facilities and expertise at Lancaster University

Success stories

The case studies focus on Lancaster’s broader work in regional innovation, including the Blackpool Innovation Catalyst, which supported cross-sector collaboration on place-based issues, and the Tech Catalyst, which helped tech businesses innovate across the Morecambe Bay area.

The Blackpool Innovation Catalyst

In partnership with Blackpool Council, a place-based initiative brought together business leaders, academics, and infrastructure experts to explore how Blackpool’s new fibre connectivity could drive inclusive digital transformation. Through collaborative workshops and real-world testing, the Catalyst developed a compelling vision for a sustainable data centre ecosystem that supports economic regeneration, job creation, and net zero ambitions. The project not only strengthened investor confidence but also fostered new research partnerships, skills development pathways, and long-term plans for a thriving digital and green economy in Blackpool.

Group of Tech Catalyst delegates stood outside Lancaster University engineering building

The Tech Catalyst

Bringing together specialist technical businesses across North Lancashire and South Cumbria to accelerate innovation through collaboration with academic experts, the initiative supported businesses in identifying their key challenges and innovation priorities, connecting with multi-disciplinary academics, and co-developing actionable projects. From predictive analytics and advanced manufacturing to AI and servitization, the structured, challenge-led approach turned complex problems into scalable, real-world solutions.

Through a series of facilitated workshops, collaborators gained strategic insights, built collaborative networks, and accessed funding opportunities such as the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA).