As we look to invest in growth and recovery across the country, creating hubs for innovation activity is more important than ever. The CPC Innovation Places Summit will convene national place-makers and innovation practitioners who are looking to build the next generation of UK innovative hubs, quarters, and districts. At this one-day summit, innovation district leaders, policymakers, and place practitioners will be invited to share ideas for stimulating the innovation economy in their localities.

Innovation is at the heart of the UK’s recovery from COVID and the future economy. At the same time, it is widely recognised that economic productivity is unevenly distributed across the UK.  

Following the publication of the Government’s UK Innovation Strategy, place leaders across the country are reflecting on how best to invest in innovation and create regional hubs of discovery and job creation. The Innovation Strategy has been clear in its ambitions: local places will be driving growth, building on existing strengths to enable innovation and attract investment.

To build momentum and help achieve this, the Connected Places Catapult will convene a national network of place-makers and innovation practitioners who are looking to build the next generation of UK innovative hubs, quarters, and districts. Professionals from a range of backgrounds are invited to the Summit to share ideas for stimulating the innovation economy in their localities.

We invite you to join, to meet with other place-makers and innovation leaders, share best practice, identify common barriers to growth and acceleration, and discuss potential solutions. We will also share a simple tool, based on the 6-stage framework from our recently published Hubs of Innovation Playbook, for you to assess what stage your innovation hub is at so that you can attend sessions with places in similar stages of growth.

The Innovation Places Summit represents the first step in creating a national place-based innovation network. This will enable places to collaboration and share knowledge – vital for successful delivery of the Innovation Strategy.

Why attend:

• Learn how to navigate the challenges of setting up and scaling a hub of innovation
• Hear best practice from leading innovation districts and consider how to apply this in local contexts
• Build a network with places for future collaboration
• Prepare for how best to develop a strong bid for forthcoming Innovation Deals
• Identify specific tools and frameworks which can support hubs of innovation in different stages

Who should attend:

• Place leaders – Local Authorities
• Developers
• Academia

Agenda

09.15 – 09.30 – Welcome by Connected Places Catapult

09.30 – 09.45 – Keynote address

09.45 – 10.30 – Cities Panel

10.30 – 11.15 – Workshops

• Session 1A: Workshop: Social and Civic value of innovation
• Session 1B: Workshop: Coalition and stakeholder building

11.15 – 11:45 – Coffee break and networking

11:45 – 12:30 – Workshops

• Session 2A: Case studies: Setting Up and Auditing stages.
• Session 2B: Case studies: Growth and Maturity stages

12:30 – 13:15 – Workshops

• Session 3A: Workshop: Developing SME support
• Session 3B: Workshop: Making the Strategic Case

13:15 – 13:55 – How to win investment and gain global profile

13:55 – 14:00 – Closing Remarks