Matrix

What works in diversity and inclusion?
2022-03-15 10:30 - 15:15 (Europe/London) | Online
This years Royal Academy of Engineering’s annual diversity and inclusion conference will convene the engineering community to accelerate understanding and adoption of what works in diversity and inclusion (D&I).
The online conference will bring together engineering and D&I professionals to collaborate and develop successful solutions to make sustained progress on diversity and inclusion. RAEng address important sub-themes during the day, including how to measure D&I success; what works when creating and maintaining inclusive cultures; and the successes and pitfalls when building inclusive systems, services and products.
Join RAEng to hear from leading engineering companies and discuss how we can achieve our diversity and inclusion ambitions, utilise employee perspectives to identify and develop more impactful measures, and create inclusive systems and products where inherent bias is eliminated.

10.30am
Welcome
Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng – Chair, Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Committee

10.40am
Keynote address

11.00am
Opening panel: How to measure diversity and inclusion success

11.30am
BREAK

11.45am
Panel discussion: What helps to make an inclusive culture?

1.00pm
LUNCH

2.00pm
Panel discussion: Developing Inclusive systems and products: Success and pitfalls

3.00pm
An evidence-based future for D&I
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Academy of Engineering

3.10pm
Feedback & next steps

3.15pm
CLOSE

Innovative Digital Technologies in Flexible Manufacturing
2022-03-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Production efficiency often centres around a consistent product and process, optimised to run with minimal downtime. But what happens when customers demand more product variation, where you need to switch a process from one product to another, or where batch sizes are small? This event will explore how digital technology can help manufacturers maintain efficiency and asset utilisation whilst offering the customer what they want.

Channelling the Power and Potential of Space Data II
2022-03-21 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Join Digital Catapult Northern Ireland, NI Space Office and Blue Inspiration to hear about a series of sector led challenges where the use of space data and application of advanced digital technologies may provide innovative solutions.
Key stakeholders across public bodies have identified potential use cases where space data can be used and innovation can be applied to address challenge areas. The purpose is to present opportunities for SME’s to work alongside government and arm’s length bodies in helping realise the benefits of accessing and utilising space data and innovation from analytics and technologies like AI/ML.
In this information session Digital Catapult will present current challenges from across government where access to space data, data analytics and the application of AI/ML can provide innovative solutions. These challenges will include ways to streamline resource intensive tasks, efficiencies and cost savings, contribute to carbon net zero targets, and use data analytics and AI/ML to innovate on current practice.
Attendees will have:

The opportunity to connect with public sector challenge owners
Opportunity to identify ways in which your organisation may be able to offer expertise and solutions
To hear ways in which opportunities may be supported through access to R&D funds and other opportunities

Who should attend:

Enterprises who have experience of using Space and Satellite data in developing solutions
Enterprises interested in or currently working in analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, drone technology etc
Enterprises with experience in computer vision problems, analysing optical (visible spectrum) pictures, Infra-Red, LIDAR or RADAR
Enterprises with experience of applying innovation and technology to solve civil and public challenges

Featuring challenges that include:

Mapping urban risk areas e.g. underground mine shafts
Mapping coastal areas to identify seaweed for aquaculture
Grassland/Silage yield and quality mapping
Satellite Data for land use: agriculture, habitat mapping, planning etc.

Innovative Digital Technologies in Production Systems
2022-03-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Integrated digital production management systems within a business can deliver control and optimisation of manufacturing, product lifecycle and resource management processes. The main systems are SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), which controls the machines and equipment and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) which controls the activities on the factory floor both within and between each operation.

BelTech 2022
2022-04-07 09:00 - 18:00 | Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast, Belfast, BT3 9EP, United Kingdom
BelTech 2022 will take place on April 7th in Titanic Belfast and will continue to lead the way in gathering, informing and inspiring Northern Ireland’s technology practitioners of today and of the future.
A vibrant, timely and vital hybrid tech conference for practitioners which will reboot the business tech sector, showcase NI tech business resilience to domestic and global audience and lead on the development of a new Cloud Native economy.
BelTech will bring together local software practitioners and entrepreneurs online to learn about and discuss the latest advances
in Software Engineering. Giving technology and business leaders a forum to connect and exchange views with peers locally and globally, BelTech also celebrates achievement in NI tech, whilst engaging and inspiring the next generation of professionals.
This year’s event focuses on Software Delivery – the process of delivering technology to market and the tracks and themes are:

Going Live With Technology: These sessions will discuss the challenges of making it to market, what it means to be production ready, the importance of multi-disciplinary teams, Evolutionary Architecture and LiveOps.
What’s Next, New and Changing the Industry: These sessions will discuss emerging technology markets that present new tools. opportunities and improvements for business. Blockchain, Web3, AI, and Cyber Security. The maturity of offerings and potential for growth in these markets.

The European Green Deal and the UK
2022-04-25 08:00 - 12:00 | Online
The European Green Deal and the UK – impact, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration on policy, research, trade, sector decarbonisation, and international development
This conference will examine the European Green Deal and the key priorities for achieving the aim for Europe to be the first climate-neutral continent.
A key focus will be the opportunities and implications for stakeholders in the UK and internationally, including in the areas of business and research collaboration, trade and policy coordination, as well as possible challenges that lie ahead.
Included are keynote sessions with João Vale de Almeida, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom; Jytte Guteland MEP, Lead Climate Negotiator, European Parliament and Jacquelyn MacLennan, Partner, White & Case – as well as contributions from AECOM; Aldersgate Group; the Connected Places Catapult; the European Space Agency; Melius Homes; National Grid; NFU Scotland; University of York; and Visa Europe.
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; the CCC; DIT; the FCDO; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; DfT; DAERA, NI; the Environment Agency, NI; the DWI; NAO; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government – as well as parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament.

UK-China Research Collaboration
2022-04-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
How can, and how should, the UK collaborate with China on R&D? Can research collaboration contribute to wider diplomacy between the two countries, or to tackling global issues such as climate change? When might we not want to collaborate with China on R&D, and how do we make those decisions? At this Foundation for Science and Technology event,these issues will be discussed as explore UK-China R&D collaboration is explored.

Increasing Interdisciplinarity in UK R&D (online)
2022-05-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
A discussion event on interdisciplinarity in UK R&D

There has been an increasing focus on interdisciplinary research in recent years, and many current key policy challenges (including climate change, post-covid recovery, economic security, migration, and healthcare) need evidence from interdisciplinary research. As the science budget increases over the coming years, and UKRI announce their allocations, what do we need to do to increase interdisciplinary research in the UK?
Speakers:

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser DBE FRS, Chief Executive, UKRI
Professor Rachel Gooberman-Hill, Institute Director, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute, University of Bristol
Professor David Soskice FBA, Professor of Political Science and Economics, London School of Economics

Chaired by Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS

Adopting AI in Manufacturing: How to Access KTP Funding to Close Your Knowledge Gap
2022-05-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Online
Manufacturing businesses are invited to join these interactive roundtables to explore the uses of AI within their operations, and learn how to access KTP funding to address their challenges.
Despite the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, the UK manufacturing sector showed strong growth in 2021; however, in the light of the current geopolitical situation, supply chains have been further disrupted triggering input-cost inflation. Furthermore, maintaining a skilled workforce still represents a challenge.
Continued growth and productivity can be enabled – in part – by focusing on technology adoption and automation, which in turn will drive the required upskilling and workforce productivity the sector needs, while cutting costs. In order to achieve this, InnovateUK KTN are keen to support strategic initiatives around the adoption of AI, especially for SMEs and businesses that have been affected by the current global challenges.
The AI team at Innovate UK KTN, in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme and the Manufacturing Made Smarter Innovation Network will deliver two virtual interactive sessions where manufacturing businesses from all sectors will have the opportunity to explore the uses of Artificial Intelligence within their operations.
During these sessions, we will also help identify projects that can be funded through the KTP programme – an open competition which offers support rates between 50-75% of the eligible project costs, that links forward thinking businesses with the UK’s world class knowledge bases to deliver innovation projects. During the webinars, attendees will get the chance to learn further details about the programme, with dedicated KTP Advisers available to facilitate the discussions and help shape potential projects and consortiums.

The Future of Work Event
2022-05-25 09:00 - 2022-05-26 16:00 | RDS Simmonscourt, Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
The Future of Work Event

Technology is revolutionising the workplace with trends such as AI, robotics, automation, gig economy, remote working etc transforming the jobs we do and how we interact with our workplace.
The workplace has been transformed in recent years and more rapid change is on the way as the tech revolution continues to determine the way we communicate and collaborate. Furthermore, flexible workplace design will play an increasing role in the ability of businesses to attract new recruits, retain talent and impress potential and existing clients.
Recent research has highlighted that work spaces incorporating features such as natural daylight, windows with views and better air quality, actually improve productivity by enabling staff to concentrate and perform better. Improved lighting and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have also been shown to result in lower staff sickness levels.
The aim of this event is to bring together key executives from sectors such as HR, recruitment, education,training, tech, manufacturing and supply chain. The event will focus on the opportunities and challenges in the workplace and what tools you will need to drive transformation across your workplace. It will also explore where the key opportunities will lie in the jobs market.
The Future of Work Conference will showcase the latest developments in modern workplace design and provide practical advice on topics such as: how to create a sustainable and ergonomic professional environment; design a workplace that caters for an increasingly diverse workforce and nurtures a collaborative culture; and how to plan a work space that is flexible enough to accommodate the latest technology but that remains people focused.

Key Topics
Automation & Robotics
AI & Machine Learning
IoT & Industry 4.0
Remote Working
Retaining Talent
Collaboration
Diversity
Benefits and Compensation
Retaining Talent
Technology
Mobility
Culture
Workspaces
Globalization
Future Careers-Educating the Next Generation

The Future of Work Conference is part of the Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition, which will also incorporate complementary events, including the Automation & Robotics Event, the IoT & Industry 4.0 Expo, and the Careers, Skills & Training Expo, to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of how the digital revolution will impact their day-to-day business operations of the the Irish workplace including the manufacturing sector.

National Medtech & Biotech Summit
2022-05-25 09:00 - 2022-05-26 16:00 | RDS Simmonscourt, Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
Ireland’s Leading Medtech & Biotech Event

MedTech companies have a base in Ireland. Indeed, Ireland is one of the top seven employers of MedTech professionals in Europe, with more than 40,000 people currently working in the sector. Furthermore, there are now more than 450 MedTech companies operating in Ireland with over 60% having been developed locally.
In the Biotechnology sector, there are well over 300 companies operating in Ireland. Indeed, all but one of the world’s 25 largest Biotech and Pharma companies have a presence in Ireland. In recent years, capital investment of about $10 billion has been made in new facilities by the BioPharma industry in Ireland. This is believed to represent close to the biggest wave of investment in new BioTech facilities anywhere in the world, according to the IDA Ireland (Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency).
The Biotechnology Innovation Organisation defines Biotechnology at its simplest as technology based on biology – Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. Medical Technologies relate to prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and care, and often utilise new technologies such as artificial intelligence or machine learning, according to MedTech Europe.
The National MedTech & Biotech Summit, which is being held on 25th & 26th of May at the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin, will highlight the key trends and challenges facing the sector, while also showcasing the latest innovations and developments in best practice, and the technological solutions available. The event will focus on the global growth opportunities, as well as major trends such as digital health and the shift to value-based healthcare and the long-term implications for manufacturers and business models.
The National MedTech & BioTech Summit is part of the National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition, which incorporates several complementary events – all under one roof. Other co-located events include: the National Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Expo; Lab2Cleanroom Live; the Automation and Robotics Event; the IOT & Industry 4.0 Expo; the National Sustainability Summit; the Supply Chain & Logistics Expo; and the Lean Productivity and Continuous Improvement Summit.

IoT and Industry 4.0 Expo
2022-05-25 09:00 - 2022-05-26 16:00 | RDS Simmonscourt, Simmonscourt Road, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
IoT & Industry 4.0

Be part of the 4th industrial revolution
See the future of manufacturing from global experts. Understand government policy, gain support & access to finance, adopt the latest business models, hear about large- & small-scale 4.0 case studies, and what this means for your manufacturing business. Come & network with your peers and see the latest technologies & solutions to make manufacturing smarter. Join us a the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin on the 25th & 26th of May 2022 to experience Irelands largest gathering for the 4th industrial revolution. IOT Connect Live is a unique opportunity for the manufacturing industry to get together to specifically share ideas and experiences on industry 4.0, to make new and valuable contacts with peers and suppliers, and catch up with old friends and colleagues. Discover how industry is evaluating and implementing industry 4.0 and update yourself on new technologies and applications that can improve efficiencies within your business.
This year’s event will focus on the incredible benefits that the Internet of Things can bring to Manufacturing; from the adoption of advanced manufacturing methods which allow for greater customisation, through to the potential energy savings and performance improvements that it can deliver. We will also explore the new skills that will be needed to underpin this change, as operations and information technology collide. Attendees will hear industry leaders share the opportunities and difficulties of implementing advanced manufacturing techniques, and their recommendations for others who are progressing their IoT journey. There will be the chance to network throughout the day with technology and industry leaders, as well as gain a greater understanding of Government support and plans in this area.

Airspace of the Future Showcase
2022-06-15 10:30 - 13:30 | Online and In Person
During the hybrid event you will hear from the project partners who will be discussing what the airspace may look like in the future with regards to creating a safe, sustainable and accessible airspace.
The Airspace of the Future consortium led by Thales are hosting their final showcase event at the DARTeC facility at Cranfield University.
The project partners are: Thales, Cranfield University, Cranfield Airport Operations, Inmarsat, Altitude Angel, Ocado Group, Blue Bear, Satellite Applications Catapult, and Connected Places Catapult.
Over the past 21 months this multi-skilled, cross-sector consortium has been focussing on exploring the challenges that the future use of drones at scale will face and how we solve them. The project has been developing a coherent, UK-wide solution that will meet regulatory and safety requirements which will enable equitable access to the airspace to all drone operators against a managed and controlled framework.
During the hybrid event you will hear from the project partners who will be discussing what the airspace may look like in the future with regards to creating a safe, sustainable and accessible airspace.

Scenarios for a Science Superpower
2022-07-06 11:30 - 12:45 | Online
The UK Government has announced in a number of recent policy documents its aim for the UK to become a “science superpower”. What does this mean in practice – and how would we get there? What are the opportunities and the challenges? In this webinar, we will explore these issues, and hear about recent work by Professors Sarah Main and Graeme Reid to develop some potential scenarios for the future.

Speakers

Professor Sarah Main
Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering

Professor Graeme Reid
Chair of Science and Research Policy , University College London

Other Speakers To Be Confirmed

Support for business innovation - latest developments and priorities for policy - finance, procurement, talent, leadership, and investor skills, and access to market and export opportunities
2022-07-11 08:30 - 13:00 | Online
This conference is discussing priorities for policy and action to support business-led innovation in the UK – in enterprises of all scales, including innovative scale-ups and SMEs.
It is bringing together stakeholders with key policymakers to examine progress and next steps for the Government’s UK innovation strategy and UKRI’s Plan for action for business innovation – with an added discussion focus on priorities following the pandemic.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with Sarah Mackintosh, Deputy Director, Innovation, BEIS; and Dave Wilkes, Director, Innovation Ecosystem, Innovate UK.
Delegates will assess what is needed – from government, regulation, finance and the wider private and public sectors – to help meet the needs of innovators through all stages of corporate and product development, including in R&D, feasibility studies, investment, partnership development and commercialisation.
The agenda looks at:

finance:

growing private investment in UK innovation – leveraging public funding – building specialist investor skills
regulation – use of mechanisms such as BBB & Global Britain Investment Fund

partnerships – better facilitating creation collaboration between investors & businesses – opportunities for sharing knowledge, best practice, intelligence & talent
public procurement – improving tendering processes – mechanisms to better support innovators – widening access & opportunities for SMEs to expand in domestic & international markets
talent – options for domestic and international skills, education & recruitment pathways – potential & use of the new Scale-up, High Potential & Global Mobility visa routes

The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside policy officials who are due to attend from DCMS; DIT; the Home Office; IPO; and The Scottish Government.

Inbound Investors 2022
2022-08-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Titanic Hotel, Titanic Quarter, 8 Queens Rd,, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT3 9DT, United Kingdom
In 2021 Catalyst’s Inbound Investors attracted 63 non-NI Investors to Belfast and scored very highly on their feedback.
This year, Inbound Investors will be held on the 18th October and is a great opportunity to meet the largest number of funders ever to come to NI and accelerate your path to securing potential funding. Inbound Investors will host external Venture Capitalists, Family Offices and Syndicates, a growing number of whom have already invested in NI companies. All coming together in Belfast primed to explore in investable opportunities. They are interested not just in companies raising now, but also in building relationships towards future potential rounds.
As an entrepreneur seeking potential funding, this will be your opportunity to get to the deal tables of Investors.

INVENT Awards 2022
2022-09-01 20:00 - 22:30 | ICC Belfast, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 3WH, United Kingdom
The INVENT 2022 Awards Night at the ICC Waterfront Belfast. Join Catalyst on the 1st September 2022 for Northern Ireland’s biggest celebration of innovation, where they will be showcasing the ten INVENT 2022 finalists, and unveiling the INVENT 2022 overall winner.
Ten finalists | One overall winner | £47,000 worth of funding available
Hosted by William Crawley the Evening includes

Finalist Showcase and Drinks reception
The INVENT Awards including category, student and overall winner announcements
Innovation Founder Award
A 3 course meal featuring local NI produce accompanied with wine

Tickets can be purchased on an individual or table basis.
Finalists include Mind-Mapper Ltd, PulseAI, Vikela Armour, Field of Vision, Plaswire Limited, Phasora Ltd, Linc, Academic Fish Ltd, Thunder, and Allergy Act.

23rd TAROS Conference
2022-09-07 - 2022-09-09 | Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, OX14 3DB, United Kingdom
UKAEA’s RACE will host the 23rd TAROS – the longest running UK-hosted international conference on Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS). It is aimed at the presentation and discussion of the latest results and methods in autonomous robotics research and applications.
TAROS offers a friendly environment for robotics researchers and industry to take stock and plan future progress. It welcomes senior researchers and research students alike, and specifically provides opportunities for research students and young research scientists to present their work to the scientific community.
Deadlines

20th May 2022
Submission deadline (5pm BST)

10th June 2022
Confirmation of acceptance

15th July 2022
Camera-ready paper submission (5pm BST)

Professional and Financial Services Innovation CR&D Competition Briefing Event
2022-09-08 09:00 - 13:00 | Online
Innovate UK will open a new £7m CR&D competition on 5th September, to support digital innovation in Professional and Financial services.
Key themes of the competition are to enable services to under-served and excluded communities, individuals and businesses and to make provision of these professional and financial services more efficient and effective.
The competition will be open for applications from the 5th September until 9th November.

Opportunities in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Scheme
2022-09-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Innovate UK KTN in collaboration with the UK Research Office (UKRO) and the UK National Contact Point for the European Innovation Council, Innovate UK would like to invite you to a webinar on the 8th of September which will give you an overview of the EIC and EIC Pathfinder.
The EIC pathfinder programme supports the exploration of bold ideas for radically new technologies. It welcomes the high-risk / high gain and interdisciplinary cutting-edge science collaborations that underpin technological breakthroughs.
Grants of up to 3 to 4 million euro support early stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low Technology Readiness Levels 1-3), up to proof of concept. Pathfinder projects can also receive additional funding for testing the innovation potential of their research outputs.

Who is this Event for?

Applicants participating in EIC Pathfinder projects are typically visionary scientists and entrepreneurial researchers from universities, research organisations, start-ups, high-tech SMEs, or industrial stakeholders interested in technological research and innovation.
Projects typically involve consortia of researchers and other partners from at least three different countries, but there are also opportunities for individual teams and small consortia (two partners).

What is it About?

Blazej Thomas, Senior European Advisor NCP, UKRO will provide an overview of Horizon Europe. Claire Griffin, UK National Contact Point, EIC, Innovate UK will be giving an overview of the EIC, focusing on the Pathfinder scheme, including eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria and on how to move results up the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

Briefing Event: SBRI Healthy Ageing Scaling Social Ventures Competition
2022-09-14 10:00 - 10:45 | Online
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is pleased to announce the launch of the upcoming SBRI Healthy Ageing Scaling Social Ventures Competition, from UKRI and our Healthy Ageing Challenge.
The healthy ageing market we are investing in is diverse. It ranges from helping people remain physically active through to managing the impacts of ageing, such as hearing loss and cognitive impairment. On the way, innovations will help people live independently in their own homes for longer and enable them to remain engaged with their communities. These solutions will address Healthy Ageing’s ‘seven themes of ageing,’ described here.
Launching on 5 September, the competition aims to help companies achieve this mission by awarding a total of £3m. With grants for eligible project costs being allocated across one funding stream aimed at scaling existing products and services. Businesses will be able to apply for grants between 250K and 500K.
To discuss this further, an online briefing event is being held on 14 September to explain how the SBRI for Scaling Social Ventures will work, how businesses can apply and what UKRI are seeking.
During the briefing event there will be an opportunity to register for a 1-to-1 session with Innovate UK colleagues to address specific questions.
Agenda
10:00 – General introductions
10:05 – Healthy Ageing Challenge overview
10:15 – Introduction to Scaling Social Ventures SBRI competition
10:35 – SBRI overview
10:45 – IFS application process
Headed up by our Investment and Technology Innovation Lead, Dr Helen Crampin
The 100% funding provided by this competition, recognises the valuable contribution social enterprises make to society. I’m really looking forward to supporting you through the competition process and ensuring you get the best chance possible of securing this great funding opportunity.
Are you eligible? Do you meet the following requirements?

Exist to provide benefits to society
Have stated commitment to social outcomes for an identified set of beneficiaries related to the social mission
Have objects in constitutional documents, which form a constitutional lock, that protect the mission
Have the policy to distribute profits after tax, or plan to have one, so surpluses are used to achieve social or environmental impacts
Have the capacity and capability to scale your product or service by 25% of the current baseline activity

After the event our online networking tool, Meeting Mojo will be available for use for you to speak to the meeting hosts.

Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Industry Update Event
2022-09-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Online
The Department for Transport, Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN would like to invite you to an important CMDC industry engagement event on the 22nd September 2022 in London. There will also be the option to join this hybrid event virtually.
Following on from the successful Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Rounds 1 and 2, the organisers would like to welcome stakeholders across the maritime sector and supporting industries to attend this important event about the next stages of the programme through to March 2025. The event will explain the latest opportunities to engage with the CMDC programme and deliver the transition to clean maritime.
All stakeholders across the UK’s clean maritime eco-system are strongly urged to register to attend.
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition programme is a multi-year R&D funding initiative. In March 2021, the Government allocated £23m of funding to 55 projects across the UK as part of CMDC1. These projects totalling £33m of public and private investment supported the design and development of zero emission shipping technologies and greener ports through a series of technology trials and feasibility studies to accelerate clean maritime. The competition ended on 31 March.
In May 2022, the new £206m UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) in DfT committed to a number of interventions to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector including further rounds of the CMDC over the next three financial years. This included launching CMDC2 with £12m of government funding for feasibility studies and pre-deployment technologies in clean maritime. The application window was closed on 14 July and bids are being assessed. Successful projects will run from January 2023 to August 2023.
UK SHORE committed to a third round of the CMDC later in 2022 aimed at large technology demonstrations and a fourth round in 2023.
Stakeholders are asked to register for this save the date now, as we are expecting high demand.

NICON22
2022-10-19 - 2022-10-20 | La Mon Hotel & Country Club, 41 Gransha Road, Comber, Northern Ireland, BT23 5RF, United Kingdom
The Northern Ireland Annual Conference and Exhibition 2022 (NICON22) provides a unique opportunity for colleagues and partners from across the health and care system, as well as the private and voluntary and community sector to come together, share ideas, reflect, network, and learn.
At this year’s conference, entitled ‘Recognition | Ambition | Mobilisation’, you can expect to hear from a wide range of local leaders, international speakers and frontline staff across over 40 sessions. Over the two days, we hope to inspire and connect you as we recognise the contribution of our workforce, explore our shared ambition for our health and social care services and agree how to mobilise to tackle waiting lists and deliver a world-class service for our citizens.
Speakers this year will include:

Peter May, Chief Executive of the HSC; Permanent Secretary, Department of Health
Robin Swann MLA, Minister of Health for NI, Department of Health
Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; National Director, Elective Recovery, NHS England
Dr Anna van Poucke, Global Head of Healthcare, KPMG International; Healthcare Senior Partner, KPMG Netherlands
Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive, Wigan Council
Prof Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health, Wigan Council
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation
Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health
Prof Siobhan O’Neill, Mental Health Champion for NI

Agenda
A copy of the conference agenda and delegate mini guide are available to view below.
NICON22 Conference Agenda
NICON22 Conference Mini Guide
Who should attend?
If you are a manager, clinician, service user, or partner in health and social care, we would be delighted to welcome you to conference.

An Innovation Strategy for Scotland
2022-11-07 12:30 - 17:00 | Online
The Scottish Government is shortly to publish an innovation strategy. What are the key challenges for promoting innovation in Scotland, and how will the new strategy tackle these? What are the key contributions needed from the Scottish Government, industry, higher education and others? What can Scotland learn from a similar strategy in Wales, and how does this fit in with plans of the UK Government? In this discussion event, we intend to explore these questions, and look forward to the new Scottish innovation strategy.
Speakers

Ivan McKee MSP
Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government

Professor Sir Jim McDonald
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, and President of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Professor Julie Fitzpatrick OBE
Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland

Dr Deborah O’Neill
Chief Executive Officer, Novabiotics

Professor Rick Delbridge
Professor of Organizational Analysis, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University

Hardtech and High-Value Manufacturing
2022-11-09 17:30 - 21:30 | Online
What is the role of hardtech and high-value manufacturing companies to the UK economy? How do these companies work with the UK research base? How do they contribute to the innovation strategies of the UK and devolved governments, to skills development, and to levelling up, as part of the post-Covid recovery? And what should policymakers, funding agencies and the companies themselves be doing do to ensure that we maximise the value to the UK from these innovative companies? These are just some of the questions we hope to explore in this discussion event.

SBRI: Information event - Delivering a wastewater smart network for NI
2022-11-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
NI Water is the sole water and wastewater provider for Northern Ireland and is committed to ensuring its treatment is efficient, and that wastewater returned to the environment is safe.
NI Water has been awarded £200,000 ex VAT of SBRI funding to support up to 4 suppliers to undertake research to develop a smart wastewater network.

Find out more about this competition.

The project is intended to understand existing data sets from the wastewater networks to identify and provide early warnings allowing reaction to problems and effective mitigation.
This free to attend, online event will provide an overview of the SBRI programme in Northern Ireland, information about the project, and details of the application process.

Northern Ireland Economic Conference
2022-11-30 | Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick, Paradise Walk, Templepatrick, BT39 0DD
The Northern Ireland Economic Conference, now in its 27th year, is Northern Ireland’s premier economic analysis event and is unique in being the only forum that takes a high level look at the performance of, and prospects for the local economy. It is firmly established as the annual autumn summit for Northern Ireland’s economic community, including policy makers and business leaders. This year’s conference will take place at a time of unprecedented change and is the not to be missed event for all the latest information and perspectives on the local economy.
Matrix will partner with this event and our Chair, Dr Robert Grundy will present our latest foresight report Northern Ireland’s Future Hydrogen Capability and Demand.

SBRI Wales Health Programme 2022-2024: Briefing Event on New Challenges
2022-11-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
SBRI Health Programme 2022-2024 – An overview of the exciting new challenges launched by the SBRI Centre of Excellence.
The SBRI Centre of Excellence has recently launched three new exciting challenges. This event will give you the opportunity to hear from the Challenge Owners directly on their particular problem and put any questions that you may have to them to enable you to complete your applications.
For full details of the challenges and to apply, please click the following links:

Patient Comms Challenge
Improving Ergonomics for ENT Surgeons
Safe and Ethical Disposal of Nitrous Oxide and Entonox Medical Gases

Developing evidence capabilities to improve decision-making and policy impact
2022-12-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Demands for policy advice and evidence are increasingly expected at the forefront of the UK’s national, regional and local government. More tools, resources and knowledge mobilisation activities are being geared towards supporting decision-makers to implement evidence-informed and impactful policy. Yet knowing what processes, capabilities and methodologies can be used to determine what works, when, why and how is difficult for civil servants facing mounting pressures to deliver quickly, with impact and at scale.
In partnership with the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme and the Chief Scientific Adviser’s (CSA) Office at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Nesta is excited to launch a new interactive toolkit on Engaging With Evidence – a practical resource to strengthen capabilities for evidence use and expert engagement. Through a combination of theory, case studies and interactive activities, the toolkit is designed to help decision-makers learn about what evidence and expertise can be mobilised towards the right purposes at the right time. It provides a practical, easy-to-use resource for governments, knowledge intermediaries and others interested in advancing capabilities for evidence use and expert engagement.
This event is for anyone working in local, regional or national government or those interested in developing capabilities for engaging with both evidence and evidence producers, and understanding how improved evidence literacy and expert engagement can support the development of policy to ensure outcomes are effective in generating a meaningful social impact.
Confirmed speakers:
Prof. David Halpern, BIT CEO and What Works Centre National Advisor
Sarah Chaytor, Director of Strategy & Policy, UCL Research, Innovation & Global Engagement
Prof. Alan Penn, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Dr Ine Steenmans, Associate Professor in Futures, Analysis and Policy at the University College London (UCL)
Kuranda Morgan, Evidence Lead at Nesta

Hunter Memorial Lecture - Hydrogen and its application for rail propulsion
2022-12-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
The UK railway is committed to removing diesel only fleets from the network by 2040. In railway terms, this is a pressing deadline, as new vehicles built today would easily be expected to have an economic service life of 40 years, well beyond the 2040 deadline. This means new carbon free traction systems need to be developed to deliver autonomous traction on routes without overhead electrification. Hydrogen is emerging as a strong contender to provide this traction capability. The HydroFLEX train has demonstrated its viability and is ready to enter service trails on the mainline network. This presentation will give an overview of how the technology works, its strengths and weaknesses and what types of application it is best suited for, and where you should electrify.
Speaker
Professor Stuart Hillmansen is Professor in Railway Traction Systems within the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He completed a PhD in Imperial College London. His main area of research interest is in traction systems for use in railway vehicles, and modeling and measurement of energy consumption for railway systems (both AC and DC). His team have developed the 1st Hydrogen Fueled locomotive in the UK, and is currently heavily involved in the industry’s efforts to decarbonize.
This event was organised by the Midlands Power Group.
