Businesses from across the North West are invited to a special event celebrating innovative research that is helping drive economic growth while moving us towards a low carbon future.

From battery technology to biomimicry and nature-inspired architecture, the ‘Journeys to Net Zero: Collaboration Showcase’ brings together businesses, academics and researchers in a celebration of ground-breaking collaborative R&D projects delivered through the Lancaster University-led £14 million Eco-I North West programme.

Eco-I NW is a £14m programme of innovation support to North West SMEs, collaborating across Higher Education Institutions including the universities of Lancaster, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Manchester Metropolitan, Cumbria and Central Lancashire. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has supported more than 130 businesses across the region so far.

Attendees of this thought-provoking and free-to-attend event, held between 1pm and 6pm on Tuesday July 12 at Lancaster University Management School, will hear from inspiring keynote speakers, have the opportunity to network with business and academic colleagues, and visit a busy exhibition hub.

Dr Andy Pickard, Manager of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation at Lancaster University, which leads on delivering the ECO-I NW programme, said: “University interaction with business is critical at driving new ideas and innovation which is vital if we are to transition to a net zero agenda. This event celebrates this collaborative approach and will take a look back at what collaboration has achieved in terms of driving innovation.

“Industry and university partners will reflect on their journey and showcase current projects. We will close with a look to the future in terms of our aspirations for skills and business, with a sneak preview of what Eden North may bring in terms of future collaboration, co-design and co-delivery based on a sense of place.

“The showcase should prove to be a real melting-pot of innovation, ideas and expertise across low carbon themes.”

Keynote speaker at the event is Michael Pawlyn. An expert in regenerative design and biomimicry, he was a central part of the team that designed the Eden Project.

His company, Exploration Architecture, has developed a ground-breaking office project, an ultra-low energy data centre, a zero waste textiles factory and progressive solutions for green cities.

Since 2018 he has been increasingly providing advice to national governments and large companies on transformative change.

Other sessions will look at: ‘future energy technologies’; ‘saving carbon to save money’; ‘future technologies and innovation in construction’; and the ‘innovation catalyst, what peer learning can deliver’.

For the full agenda and details, as well as to register to attend, please visit the Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/journeys-to-net-zero-collaboration-showcase-tickets-311193878267

Any questions or queries about the event can be emailed to: hvb@helenvbrady.co.uk

The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation is a research centre based in Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology. The Centre brings together diverse research expertise at Lancaster University in partnership with businesses and organisations locally, nationally and internationally to facilitate transformative eco-innovation.