The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre and the University of Huddersfield are hosting virtual events as part of West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, which runs this week.
The festival, which runs from March 15-19, is aimed at promoting innovation and sharing knowledge.
Created by the West Yorkshire Innovation Network and co-ordinated by the Leeds City Regional Enterprise Partnership, the aim is to help small and medium-sized businesses find support and build connections.
The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre and the University of Huddersfield will be hosting the following events during the week:
Innovation Now: Opportunities for business & universities to work together; Tuesday March 16, 2pm-4.30pm
The University of Huddersfield is hosting an interactive breakout session that will explore challenges and opportunities for collaboration relating to innovation in the textiles sector.
The audience will learn more about current initiatives in technical textiles and the Future Fashion Factory programme. Participants will also have an opportunity to inform a new study which is seeking to map the innovation landscape for textiles in the region and identify key priorities for future industrial collaboration. To register, click here.
Idea to Prototype; Wednesday March 17, 1pm-2pm
Learn how to take a product idea from a sketch to a full prototype and hear how the 3M BIC helps businesses through this journey.
The 3M BIC’s lead designer Paul Tallo, will outline the seven stages of product development and members of the 3M BIC’s design and technology team will provide demonstrations of the centre’s advanced technology, including additive manufacture and X-Ray Computerised Tomography (XCT). A Q&A session will follow with the 3M BIC’s design and technology team. To register click here.
Innovation in Action Masterclass: Prof Liz Towns-Andrews; Thursday March 18, 1.30pm-2.30pm
3M Professor of Innovation, Prof Liz Towns-Andrews, will demystify the term ‘innovation’ and what this means for SMEs and smaller businesses.
This masterclass will explore in practical terms how adopting innovation within a company can solve real-world problems and generate improved products and processes, considering both the people and technology factors.
Liz will share real-life case studies of how companies in a range of sectors have used different approaches to innovation, in partnership with the University of Huddersfield, to help develop their business. The event will include a 40-minute talk from Liz followed by a 15/20-minute Q&A session. To register click here.
Building West Yorkshire’s Rail Innovation Eco-System; Friday March 19, 10am-11am
This event will outline the key strengths of West Yorkshire’s combined strengths in railway research and innovation as identified in a recent study.
It will discuss the formation of a new Northern Rail Innovation Network (led by the University Huddersfield and University of Leeds) and future priorities and potential collaborations with the industry. Participants include Prof Simon Iwnicki from the University of Huddersfield’s Institute for Rail Research. To register click here.
Innovation Debate: Focus on Health & Digital; Friday March 19, 11am-12noon
In conjunction with the Kirklees top 100 companies, leading businesses in the health and digital sectors will gather to discuss their stories and share advice on how they have grown their companies in Kirklees, with a focus on how they continue to innovate as a key part of their business strategy.
Chaired by Stephen Moore of CityFibre, speakers include:
- Claire Paxman, Director of Sales and Training of Paxman Scalp Cooling
- Hannah Longbottom/Alex Gutteridge, Director of Innovate Orthopadics
- James Clarkson, CEO of Adventoris
- Sue Cooke, CEO of 3M Buckley Innovation Centre
- Karen Dodd, Head of Research & Development at Thornton & Ross.
To register click here.
