Matrix

The Net Zero series: Towards a sustainable future - Sustainable Energy
2021-11-16 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London)
The net zero series sheds light on the work already undertaken by UKRI’s flagship programme -the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

We live in a time of unprecedented change. The way we live our lives and do business is impacting the planet and driving environmental change on a scale unique in the Earth’s history. We are consuming our natural resources at unprecedented levels whilst polluting our environment, affecting our air, soils, water and biodiversity. This is increasing the challenges linked to extreme weather and a changing climate which can have devastating impacts on the environment and human life and hinder economic growth. To meet these challenges, and recognising our leadership potential, in 2019 the UK became the first major economy to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
The net zero series sheds light on the work already undertaken by UKRI’s flagship programme -the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to address the key challenges that will help the UK build back greener. It will bring together world-renowned researchers and innovators across the breadth of our funding disciplines to discuss the need for innovative solutions to heat our homes, travel to work, develop and transform our industries, cater to our diet, enjoy our leisure time, and prosper from a cleaner, healthier environment in parallel with growing our economy.
We will run a monthly webinar from April to November featuring ISCF challenges, UKRI councils and project leads, as well as renowned external experts from academia, industry and technology fields.
In September we will be discussing Sustainable Energy: To succeed in limiting global warming, the UK urgently needs to use energy efficiently while embracing clean energy sources to make things move, heat up and cool down. How can we deliver cheaper, clean energy systems across the world? In what ways will energy, tech and auto firms converge and how will this impact the evolution of smart grids? What will be the business models that will succeed in 21st century energy markets?

All topic and dates:

20 July – Sustainable Industry
21 September – Sustainable Supply Chains
19 October – Sustainable Materials
16 November – Sustainable Energy

View recordings of previous topics on YouTube:

Sustainable Food

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable Buildings

The Future is Explosive!
2021-11-16 10:00 - 11:15
This webinar will discuss Dstl’s Advanced Energetic Materials research programme, covering scope, opportunities, and how to work with us.

Dstl’s webinars are designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises work with the defence sector. They are free to attend and you do not need to have experience working with Dstl or in defence.

Sign up to hear from our experts discussing Dstl’s Advanced Energetic Materials research programme, accelerating the discovery and delivery of new energetic materials to deliver more effect with less volume and mass. The session will include:

Scope of the programme and priority areas for future research and funding

Opportunities to get involved

How to work with us

Future jobs, skills and talent planning (live stream access)
2021-11-10 14:30 - 16:00
Can unlocking talent & skills impact social inequality & economic prosperity? We consider this & more in this Work: In Progress session.

Work: In Progress – The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace
Session 4: Future jobs, skills and talent planning

The world of work is changing. From the future of workspaces and ways of working, through to future jobs and talent planning; from commitments to diversity, inclusion and social purpose through to meeting the hiring demands of the growing tech sector.

Streamed live from Belfast, Work: In Progress is a Startacus event with a NI heart and soul, but with a focus on themes of global relevance and significance.

Each themed session is accessible as a standalone 1 hr 20 min streamed event (with a small in-person audience) and will encompass a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity to hear from 2 Irish tech startups with relevance to the event’s core themes.

In partnership with Matrix NI, in this 4th session focused on future jobs, skills and talent planning, we explore:

– Tackling talent shortages

– Alternatives to university and emerging talent strategies incl. training & grad schemes, apprenticeships and skills academies

– Newer ways of working – from role sharing to remote and flexible work opps

– Upskilling and reskilling strategies

– The current relationship between education, careers and employers

– Future jobs and future skills – how can we predict the roles of the future?

– What a good skills academy should look like

– Can unlocking talent and skills really impact social inequality and economic prosperity?

Book your free ticket now!

Expect to hear from:
Diana Akanho, a Senior Insight Manager at Tech Nation, she has several years of experience working in data related roles across various sectors and is particularly interested in the evolution of tech and how this has played a role in employer demand for digital skills
Sophie Smallwood, a globe-trotting tech founder (ex ebay & Facebook) who is driven to build better societies. Sophie is the founder of Roleshare, a platform that matches part-time workers to share full-time jobs. Roleshare has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a pathway to economic transformation.
Lucy Mc Kenna is co-founder of The Brave Lab, an organisation that challenges and guides people & companies to be brave; Brave enough to innovate, to learn, to journey through discomfort, and to actively participate in creating a thriving world.
Richard Kirk is the CEO & Founder of Workplus. Richard is passionate about changing how our culture views apprenticeships. Since 2016, Richard and the team at Workplus have worked with over 100 companies in various sectors across NI.
Sharon Didrichsen from Specialisterne worked in IT recruitment before bringing Specialisterne, which is across 32 cities internationally, to N Ireland. Sharon is passionate about how a little bit of support or direction can make a significant difference in the lives of neurodivergent people, and the difference neurodivergent people can make in work.
Carol Fitzsimons MBE has been Chief Executive of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland (www.yeni.co.uk) since 2009. Having previously specialised in learning & development in the private sector, she is a strong advocate for the benefits of providing young people with the opportunity to develop entrepreneurship skills from a young age. She is committed to providing young people in Northern Ireland with the best preparation for success in the new economy.

Aimed at anyone who wants to be ready for the Future of Work, who wants to embrace and drive transformational change and move into the new era with confidence, book your ticket now to the 2nd Work: In Progress session

Find out about the other three Work: In Progress sessions here and make sure to book into the session outlined above now!

About Matrix NI
Matrix is the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel. The Matrix panel is made up of business and academic leaders. Its role is to carry out research on emerging technology sectors in Northern Ireland and the challenges that those sectors face in order to help the Department for the Economy shape policy. Their current project examines the future skills requirements for Northern Irelands high tech sectors and will be published in the near future. The Matrix website promotes funding competitions, publications and events aimed at innovative tech companies.

Diversity, Inclusion & social purpose in the workplace (live stream access)
2021-11-10 13:00 - 14:30
Looking to build and sustain an inclusive & diverse workforce? In this Work: In Progress session we consider what initiatives you can drive.

Work: In Progress – The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace

Session 3: Diversity, Inclusion and social purpose (in Partnership with Pulsar)

The world of work is changing. From the future of workspaces and ways of working, through to future jobs and talent planning; from commitments to diversity, inclusion and social purpose through to meeting the hiring demands of the growing tech sector.

Streamed live from Belfast, Work: In Progress is an event with a NI heart and soul, but with a focus on themes of global relevance and significance.

Each themed session is accessible as a standalone 1 hr 20 min streamed event (with a small in-person audience) and will encompass a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity to hear from 2 Irish tech startups with relevance to the event’s core themes.

In Partnership with Pulsar, in this 2nd session focused on diversity, Inclusion and social purpose we explore:

– Building and sustaining an inclusive workplace and workforce
– Why the pandemic has accelerated the opportunity for workplace change
– Recruitment practices to help prevent unconscious / conscious bias
– Why wellbeing and positive mental health is integral to the Future of Work
– Hybrid working – how to mitigate the impact of being “out of sight” for remote / home workers

Book your free ticket now!

Expect a short bite-sized talk from:

Virginia Méndez Mesón, author, entrepreneur and public speaker, passionate about diversity, inclusion and equality.

Listen in to a panel featuring:

Leanne Evans and Sarah Watts from OSHUN – the Wellbeing Workplace, Oshun’s mission is to revolutionise wellbeing, making it more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Gillian Gregg, The Royal Academy of Engineering Senior Regional Business Development Manager (NI)
Stephen Rice, the founder and CEO of TalentSensus, a workforce development platform helping those furthest from the Labour market to find and keep jobs while removing unconscious bias from the process
Bukola Adisa, the Founder/CEO of Career Masterclass, a leading online career development platform focused on enabling the career growth of ambitious professionals by teaching the practical skills that they can use to build and enjoy a successful career.
Chris Lynch is a disabled filmmaker and presenter of BBC’s ’The Disability Paradox’. He recently setup One in Five, a pioneering social enterprise that is developing engaging video content around the disabled community for both digital and broadcast.

Aimed at anyone who wants to be ready for the Future of Work, who wants to embrace and drive transformational change and move into the new era with confidence, book your ticket now to this 3rd Work: In Progress session

Find out about the other three Work: In Progress sessions here and be sure to book into the session outlined above now!

About Pulsar

Pulsar is a website which promotes STEM diversity and maps the support available across Northern Ireland. It is the home of the Northern Ireland WISE Hub, which was launched last year with support from the Department for the Economy. Pulsar also promotes the work of the DfE Women in STEM Steering Group, made up of key stakeholders from industry, education and the public sector, who provide advice and support for the NI WISE Hub. The Steering Group is currently working with DfE to produce an Action Plan which will outline how women and girls can best be encouraged into STEM roles in Northern Ireland.

Hiring demands of the growing tech sector (live stream access)
2021-11-10 11:30 - 13:00
In our 2nd Work: In Progress session we will explore the realities of sourcing, hiring & retaining tech talent both nationally & globally.

Work: In Progress – The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace
Session 2: Hiring demands of the growing tech sector

The world of work is changing. From the future of workspaces and ways of working, through to future jobs and talent planning; from commitments to diversity, inclusion and social purpose through to meeting the hiring demands of the growing tech sector.

Streamed live from Belfast, Work: In Progress is a Startacus event with a NI heart and soul, but with a focus on themes of global relevance and significance.

Each themed session is accessible as a standalone 1 hr 20 min streamed event (with a small in-person audience) and will encompass a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity to hear from 2 Irish tech startups with relevance to the event’s core themes.

In Partnership with Young Enterprise NI, in this 2nd session focused on the hiring demands of the growing tech sector we explore:

– Sourcing talent for current tech and stem roles – where and how?
– Are we facing an imminent crisis in recruiting tech talent?
– LinkedIn company pages and the role they play in attracting and retaining top talent
– Developing our local tech ecosystem to support the growth of FDI and indigenous tech businesses
– Innovative ideas and initiatives for recruitment and retention
– Sourcing global talent for UK-based tech companies – the process and the legals
– The growth of the tech sector in NI

Book your free ticket now!

Expect, a short bite-sized talk from:

Louise Brogan. Louise works with entrepreneurs, SMEs and professionals who want to raise their profile through LinkedIn in a genuine and valuable way. Louise is an international speaker, writes for Social Media Examiner and hosts the LinkedIn with Louise Podcast.

Listen in to a panel featuring:

Claire Nixon, Director at Realtime Recruitment who has been working in Tech Recruitment in NI for over 10 years.
Claire Jenkins, co-founder of Tablecrowd Talent. Claire connects startup-passionate talent with London’s most exciting and innovative tech companies and startups.
Dave Graham who will be looking at the conversation internationally. Dave Graham is a research technologist and the technology advocate lead for Dell Technologies’ Office of Research where he focuses on how technologies are integrated into organisations, society, and their potential for global transformation.
Oli Monks is the Visa Programme Manager for Tech Nation. Managing Tech Nation’s programme as the endorsing body for the UK’s Global Talent Visa, digital technology route, Oli leads on partnerships, outreach, and the Tech Nation network of over 1000 highly-skilled tech talent from around the world.
Lorna McAdoo is the Director of Operations & Business Development NI at Version 1.

Aimed at anyone who wants to be ready for the Future of Work, who wants to embrace and drive transformational change and move into the new era with confidence, book your ticket now to the 2nd Work: In Progress session

Find out about the other three Work: In Progress sessions here and make sure to book into the session outlined above now!

Session sponsor:

Work: In Progress, at The Mac Belfast (Real-life!)
2021-11-10 10:00 - 16:15 | The Mac, 10 Exchange Street, West, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 2NJ, United Kingdom
You are invited to attend Work: In Progress, a 1-day event at The Mac focused on the Future of Work, Workforces and the Workplace.

You are invited to attend Work: In Progress, at The Mac on the 10th November!

The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace

The world of work is changing. From the future of workspaces and ways of working, through to future jobs and talent planning; commitments to diversity, inclusion and social purpose through to meeting the hiring demands of the growing tech sector.

Filmed and streamed live from Belfast, with a number of tickets to attend in-person at The Mac, Belfast, Work: In Progress is an event with a NI heart and soul, but with a focus on themes of global relevance and significance.

Organised and hosted by Startacus, each themed session will take place as a standalone 1 hr 20 min event and will encompass a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity to hear from 2 Irish tech startups with relevance to the event’s core themes.

Taking place on 10th November between 10am – 4.15pm, this event is aimed at anyone who wants to be ready for the Future of Work, who wants to embrace and drive transformational change and move into the new era with confidence.

A limited number of tickets will be available to attend in-person with other attendees joining us virtually. You have been invited to attend and experience the event in-person. Please RSVP asap to secure your place.

The core themes of the 1-day event at The Mac, Belfast include:

Session 1- The future of workspaces and ways of working
Session 2 – Hiring demands of the growing tech sector
Session 3 – Diversity, Inclusion and social purpose
Session 4 – Future jobs and talent planning

AND a Startup pitch competition (featuring startups from the island of Ireland – North and South) with overall winner announced at the end of the day!
Full agenda released asap

*Please note, we do require all in-person attendees at Work: In Progress to provide us with a contact /mobile number so that we can adhere to the current NI regulations and these details will also need to be provided to the event venue, i.e. the Mac, Belfast.*

N.B. Photos and filming may be taken by the Work In Progress team (TheEmployable Ltd t/a Startacus) for social media and to promote the event.

The future of workspaces & ways of working (live stream access)
2021-11-10 10:00 - 11:30
Looking to explore the future of workspaces, ways of working & how your business can collaborate in real-time?

Work: In Progress – The Future of Work, Workforce and Workplace

Session 1: The future of workspaces & ways of working (in Partnership with Waypoint)

The world of work is changing. From the future of workspaces and ways of working, through to future jobs and talent planning; from commitments to diversity, inclusion and social purpose through to meeting the hiring demands of the growing tech sector.

Streamed live from Belfast, Work: In Progress is an event with a NI heart and soul, but with a focus on themes of global relevance and significance.

Each themed session is accessible as a standalone 1 hr 20 min streamed event (with a small in-person audience) and will encompass a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity to hear from 2 Irish tech startups with relevance to the event’s core themes.

In partnership with Waypoint, in this 1st session focused on the the future of workspaces and ways of working, we explore:

– HR strategies to align with future work patterns
– New Remote & Hybrid work strategies
– A blended workforce – managing the people and the processes
– How to encourage collaboration and business improvement with a blended workforce
– How the pandemic has disrupted traditional business models and processes
– The opportunities for businesses to further adapt with new communication channels and tools
– What the new normal will look like in 2022 and beyond

Book your free ticket now!

Expect, a short bite-sized talk from:

– Vanessa Tierney, Director of Yonderdesk.com, a virtual real estate platform for hybrid working, and co-founder of Abodoo, a learning engagement platform for people in the new world of work and Geonostics Talent a mapping, matching and enrichment platform for future skills. Vanessa will be joined by NiNo Kovziridze, Sales and Partnership Director at Yonderdesk.

Listen in to a panel featuring:

Toby Farren, founder and CEO at Waypoint, a collaborative software platform which helps teams and organizations of any size to systemically drive, manage, orchestrate innovation & change.
Ben Dixon, co-founder and CTO of Sona, the employee app for tomorrow’s deskless workforce.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, the home business website and one of the co-founders of national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain.
Rachel McMillan, General Manager at Clockwise Offices, Belfast.
Shay O’Carroll, Co-Founder of Pixelmax, an award-winning immersive communications platform which uses 3D technology to revolutionise how organisations network, promote, inform and educate.
Rachel Gawley, a leader experienced in building flexible and collaborative teams to create ethical and meaningful solutions to problems.
Aimed at anyone who wants to be ready for the Future of Work, who wants to embrace and drive transformational change and move into the new era with confidence, book your ticket now to this first session in partnership with Waypoint.

About session partner Waypoint

Waypoint is a fundamentally new way to lead, manage and adapt to real change across increasingly complex business, social and technological environments. The Waypoint change management platform uses their proprietary, adaptive collaboration protocol which is a paradigm shift in the way conventional change programmes are managed and deployed.

The Waypoint platform connects business leaders and project teams, in real-time, with the people, processes, and evidence that will help them overcome uncertainty, solve complex problems, and get the right solutions to market, faster!

Find out about the other three Work: In Progress sessions here and book into the session outlined above now!

Ask the engineers: Is hydrogen the silver bullet that will help achieve net zero?
2021-11-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
PUBLIC EVENT
The government recently set out its strategy for developing a thriving low carbon hydrogen sector in the UK to meet its stated ambition to achieve 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
Hydrogen is an energy vector rather than a source of energy – once produced from an energy source, it can be stored and transported. Despite rapid technological advances and research, there is still much discussion about how hydrogen should be produced and how it should be used. The third event in our Ask the Engineers series will assess the potential of hydrogen, and its challenges.
From hydrogen startups to big energy companies, how much difference do engineers think hydrogen can make to the drive towards net zero?
Speakers

Chair: Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist
Dr Enass Abo-Hamed, Chief Executive Officer, H2GoPower
Professor Rebecca Lunn MBE FREng FRSE, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde

More panellists to be confirmed soon.
Supported by:
ARUP as the technology partner of the Ask the engineers series.
Tickets
This event is free of charge but registration is required. After registering, you will receive an email that contains further details on joining the online event. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Stratton, Events Manager at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Engineering Zero
This event series is part of the Academy’s campaign Engineering Zero, which aims to bring the engineering profession together to advance engineering’s contribution to net zero, working in partnership with the National Engineering Policy Centre and our global networks. More information about the campaign can be found here.
Recording notice
Please note this event will be recorded and published on the Royal Academy of Engineering website.
Accessibility
It is very important to the Royal Academy of Engineering that our events are accessible to all. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the Events team at your earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made.

TEDx Stormont - Countdown
2021-11-04 15:00 - 17:30 | Parliament Buildings, Ballymiscaw Rd, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX, United Kingdom
TEDxStormont Countdown is a part of TED’s global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action. The event will coincide with #COP26 and will take place in Stormont on Thursday, 4 November.
Speakers including:
Minister Edwin Poots MLA
Belfast Lord Mayor Cllr Kate Nicholl
Dr John Gilliland OBE, Director of Global Agriculture & Sustainability, Devenish
Susan McEwen, Sustainable Living Advocate
Chris Conway, Group Chief Executive, Translink
Joanne Sherwood, RSPB NI Director and Environment NI Vice Chair
Rosalind Skillen, Climate Activist and Podcast Host
Nandi Jola, Poet and Activist

Belfast International Homecoming 2021 - The Green Edition
2021-11-04 08:00 - 22:00 | Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast, Belfast, BT3 9EP, United Kingdom
The Belfast International Homecoming on Thursday 4 November will be the city’s lead green event during COP26.
Focusing entirely on the opportunities of a green transition the Homecoming conference in Titanic Belfast and gala banquet in Belfast City Hall will engage our global diaspora on the path to a net zero economy.
Among the guests at the annual event will be Pekka Timonen, Mayor of Lahti, Finland, EU Green Capital 2021.
Also addressing confernce delegates (virtually) will be Maria Bos, CEO of Plug Inc, a multi-billion dollar Norwegian green hydrogen company, and Assemblyman Mike Cusick, Chair of the Energy Committee in the New York State Legislature.
At the finale dinner in City Hall, Belfast Ambassador Medals will be presented to Friends of Belfast including Shona McCarthy, Director of the Edinburgh Fringe and Alflac NI Managing Director Keith Farley.
Sponsors of the 2021 Homecoming are led by Belfast City Council, Phoenix Natural Gas, Ulster Bank, Belfast Harbour, Ulster University and MRP.
Covid protocols will be observed throughout with proof of vaccination required for attendance and numbers attending capped.

Virtual Connections Café: Support and Networking Webinar
2021-10-28 10:00 - 12:00
Connected Places Catapult’s next Virtual Connections Café will be held on Thursday 28th October.
Connections Café is a series of SME innovation support events that explore developments and opportunities in the built environment and mobility sectors that enable new levels of physical, digital and social connectedness. They offer support and guidance to growing businesses to help them bridge the gap between new innovations and commercial success.
All SMEs and businesses who work within these exciting sectors are welcome.
To find out more about Connected Places Catapult events please visit the website.

Going Green: How do we win public support for the transition?
2021-10-26 13:00 - 14:15 | Online
Decarbonising homes is one of the biggest challenges in getting to net zero, requiring investment in nearly all existing homes, as well as considerable behaviour change from citizens. How might we win public support for the transition?
In this event, NESTA brings together a panel of expert speakers to discuss what it might take to get everyone on the journey to a low-carbon home, exploring the potential role of everything from subsidies and policy change to climate assemblies and deliberative democracy.
This is the first event in the Making the Switch Towards Cleaner, Greener Homes event series.

UKA Live: Is public sector procurement fit for the digital age?
2021-10-22 11:00 - 12:00
Are public sector finance, budget and procurement processes aligned with subscription-based commercial models?

The rapid evolution of technology, agile delivery and cloud infrastructure has led many suppliers to move to PAYG subscription services.

How does the public sector respond to changing commercial models?
Does the traditional capex / opex split still work? Are organisations’ chief financial officers aware of the increasing use of subscription and pay-as-you use models by digital service providers?
What approaches can a digital team take in getting their financial teams onboard with a new approach?
Should there be one framework agreement – and one price – for all the public sector from every supplier?

Who should attend this one hour UKAuthority Live Webcast?
This one hour live webcast is free to attend for the public sector
All those involved in the procurement of digital, data and technology for their organisation, including, but not limited to: Local Authority / NHS / Police / Fire / Housing Chief Information Officers, Chief Digital Officers, Heads of IT, Heads of and Leads for Finance and line of business departments, Members, Heads / Leaders in Digital and Data, Heads of Customer Services, Transformation or Change
Registration
This event is designed specifically for the UK public sector – please register using your public sector email. Please note that registrations from personal email addresses may be rejected.
UKAuthority has full editorial control of this event thanks to support from our programme partner. By registering for this event you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation, job title and work email address with the UKAuthority editorial team and partner organisation hosting this event. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know direct by emailing: sian@ukauthority.co.uk

Net Zero in Medicines Manufacturing: Measuring and Reporting Carbon Footprint
2021-10-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
In the run up to COP 26, KTN is holding a webinar: Net Zero in Medicines Manufacturing: Measuring and Reporting Carbon Footprint.
The obligations around reporting carbon outputs are becoming increasingly challenging for all sizes of companies, as global net zero target deadlines draw ever closer and customers introduce sustainable procurement directives.
This webinar is aimed at medicines manufacturers to learn about systems and tools for measuring and reporting on Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon outputs. Manufacturers of medical technologies and organisations involved in supply chain are also very welcome. This is particularly applicable to SMEs who want to find out more about carbon reporting structures and tools from organisations who have established systems.
This webinar will feature presentations and discussion from GSK, AstraZeneca and Pfizer on reporting and science-based targets, and why they are important, and what are the external demands. We will feature practical application case studies on Scope 1 & 2, and explore the challenges and opportunities to decarbonise the whole value chain (Scope 3). There will also be a presentation from NHS on forthcoming supplier guidelines.
The webinar is hosted by KTN Medicines Manufacturing Challenge Community in partnership with Innovate UK, Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership and Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
For any queries about this event please get in touch with KTN’s Karen Wilkinson.

BEYOND 2021
2021-10-20 - 2021-10-21 | Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast, Belfast, BT3 9EP, United Kingdom
BEYOND 2021 explores the role of creativity and creative tech in forming and navigating new places. It will investigate how to make big changes happen: what makes for resilient and inclusive creative economies, how research-driven innovation and intrepid ideas can be both provocateur and guide in times of change.
BEYOND 2021 is planned as a hybrid conference – access live and catch-up sessions online or delegates and speakers are welcome in Belfast in person from 19 October to experience a bespoke programme of activities, with location-based immersive experiences, networking, VIP receptions and more, plus of course lots of fine Northern Irish hospitality.

Don’t miss a lively two day programme of 50+ expert speakers, with keynotes, panel discussions, think pieces and provocations, Q&As and a showcase of leading projects and research.
Stay tuned to the BEYOND newsletter for updates on this years hybrid conference and keep your eyes peeled on @BeyondCnf for all the latest.

Generating and testing hypotheses to exploit gen-after-next science & tech
2021-10-19 13:00 - 14:15
This webinar will discuss Dstl’s Futures research programme, covering some of the scope, opportunities, and how to work with us.

Dstl’s webinars are designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises work with the defence sector. They are free to attend and you do not need to have experience working with Dstl or in defence.

Sign up to hear from our experts discussing Dstl’s Science and Technology Futures research programme. The session will include:

Scope of the programme and priority areas for future research and funding

Opportunities to get involved

How to work with us

The Net Zero series: Towards a sustainable future - Sustainable Materials
2021-10-19 11:00 - 12:30
The net zero series sheds light on the work already undertaken by UKRI’s flagship programme -the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

We live in a time of unprecedented change. The way we live our lives and do business is impacting the planet and driving environmental change on a scale unique in the Earth’s history. We are consuming our natural resources at unprecedented levels whilst polluting our environment, affecting our air, soils, water and biodiversity. This is increasing the challenges linked to extreme weather and a changing climate which can have devastating impacts on the environment and human life and hinder economic growth. To meet these challenges, and recognising our leadership potential, in 2019 the UK became the first major economy to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
The net zero series sheds light on the work already undertaken by UKRI’s flagship programme -the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to address the key challenges that will help the UK build back greener. It will bring together world-renowned researchers and innovators across the breadth of our funding disciplines to discuss the need for innovative solutions to heat our homes, travel to work, develop and transform our industries, cater to our diet, enjoy our leisure time, and prosper from a cleaner, healthier environment in parallel with growing our economy.
We will run a monthly webinar from April to November featuring ISCF challenges, UKRI councils and project leads, as well as renowned external experts from academia, industry and technology fields.
In October we will be discussing Sustainable Materials.

All topic and dates:

20 July – Sustainable Industry
21 September – Sustainable Supply Chains
19 October – Sustainable Materials
16 November – Sustainable Energy

View recordings of previous topics on YouTube:

Sustainable Food

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable Buildings

Industrial 5G Uncovered: spotlight on innovators
2021-10-19 10:00 - 12:30
This first webinar of the Industrial 5G Uncovered series will focus on working with innovators to accelerate cross-industry adoption.

Digital Catapult is a 5G technical and innovation centre of excellence, and is working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to drive industrial 5G adoption in the UK, to launch a series of industry events to showcase real examples of 5G applications, and maximise learnings for organisations in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
The first online webinar of a four-part series will focus on open innovation in 5G, shining a spotlight on innovative solutions and approaches enabled by startups and scaleups who have joined the Industrial 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, as well as those taking part in other government funded 5G initiatives and accelerators such as 5PRING. It will also highlight challenges and lessons learnt from innovators who are collaborating with industry, offering an overview of the benefits and best practice within open innovation, as well as future opportunities for innovation in smart cities, construction, manufacturing and logistics.
The event will host a panel of industry experts including leading global infrastructure operator Ferrovial, which is exploring 5G-enabled technologies to create a safe, dynamic and efficient construction industry. This webinar will serve as a means of exploring different opportunities in which businesses of all sizes can work together to accelerate the adoption of 5G through open innovation and sustained relationships.

Why attend

Learn about new exciting industrial 5G use cases and innovative solutions developed by small and medium sized businesses

Gain insight into how you can unlock 5G enabled innovation by collaborating with startups and scaleups

Get inspired by industry experts leading the way in 5G adoption

Find out more about open innovation best practice

Discover funding opportunities from the Horizon Europe programme

Who should attend
This event is designed for industry sector managers, executives and team members who are considering digital solutions and open innovation to help optimise and develop their business. It is also a great opportunity for technology innovators who want to learn more about 5G capabilities to build new solutions or expand current value propositions.

About the programme
Digital Catapult is a delivery partner for the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme and is helping to drive innovative new use cases of 5G in UK industry sectors by coordinating eight projects including 5G Encode, 5GEM, 5G Factory of the Future, 5G CAL, 5G Logistics, 5G Ports, AMC2 and Smart Junctions.
The programme sets out to demonstrate the value of 5G beyond enhanced mobile broadband by targeting industry focused use cases in manufacturing and logistics to:

Explore the potential for efficiency and productivity benefits
Help make the UK a global leader in the adoption and application of 5G technology
Help the UK lead the development of the implementation and standards around 5G

Transforming Cyber Resilience
2021-10-19 10:00 - 11:15
This webinar will discuss Dstl’s Cyber research programme, covering some of the scope, opportunities, and how to work with us.

Dstl’s webinars are designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises work with the defence sector. They are free to attend and you do not need to have experience working with Dstl or in defence.

Sign up to hear from our experts discussing Dstl’s Cyber research programme. The session will include:

Scope of the programme and priority areas for future research and funding

Opportunities to get involved

How to work with us

What should COP26 aim to achieve?
2021-10-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
PUBLIC EVENT
As delegations from UN member states prepare to gather in Glasgow in November to accelerate collective action towards preventing an irreversible climate catastrophe, we ask a panel of expert engineers what the COP26 summit needs to achieve.
The G7 meeting in Cornwall re-affirmed rich countries’ pledge to protect the planet, but detailed actions have yet to be announced.
The number of governments worldwide setting net zero targets is a positive sign but how will these targets be achieved in practice? The engineering profession is a massive part of that “how” and engineers are actively developing ways to help reduce emissions.
So what do engineers want to hear from the summit?
Speakers

Chair: Alok Jha, Science and Technology Correspondent, The Economist
Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng, Deputy Chair, Arup
Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President, Royal Academy of Engineering
Olivia Sweeney, Consultant, Resource Futures and Black and Green Ambassador

More panellists to be confirmed soon.
Supported by
ARUP as the technology partner of the Ask the engineers series.
Tickets
This event is free of charge but registration is required. After registering, you will receive an email that contains further details on joining the online event. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Stratton, Events Manager at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Engineering Zero
This event series is part of the Academy’s campaign Engineering Zero, which aims to bring the engineering profession together to advance engineering’s contribution to net zero, working in partnership with the National Engineering Policy Centre and our global networks. More information about the campaign can be found here.
Recording notice
Please note this event will be recorded and published on the Royal Academy of Engineering website.
Accessibility
It is very important to the Royal Academy of Engineering that our events are accessible to all. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the Events team at your earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made.

Establishing the Chief Data Office at DWP Digital
2021-10-18 14:30 - 15:15 | Online
The Department for Work and Pensions currently handles over 200TB of data, which continues to grow in both volume and diversity at a rate of around 10% a year.
Join us for a webinar with Katharine Purser, Head of Data Strategy and Enablement at DWP, who will discuss the challenge of establishing the Chief Data Office within DWP to help them understand the value of their data and how to make best use of it to serve citizens and plans for the future.
Places are limited, so please register to secure your virtual seat at this event.

Critical conversations series: Right to Repair: how can we end built-in obsolescence?
2021-10-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
From the Royal Academy of Engineering comes Right to Repair: how can we end built-in obsolescence?
Join Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Royal Academy of Engineering CEO, for a Critical conversation with Mark Miodownik MBE FREng, Professor of Materials and Society at UCL Mechanical Engineering and Dr Amrit Chandan, Co-founder and CEO, Aceleron, as they discuss the ‘right to repair’.
The event falls just before International Repair Day on 16 October and follows Mark’s BBC Radio 4 series, Dare to Repair. Following on from their September Critical conversation, which focused on the dangerous end of life of many engineered products in open burning, RAEng turn to the design of products and consider how we can end built-in obsolescence.

BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator - Launch and Networking Event
2021-10-14 10:00 - 12:00
Join our launch and networking event to find out more about the BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) and how to apply for it

Join our launch and networking event to find out more about the BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA), how to apply for it and to network with promising innovators and forward-thinking industrial sites to discuss potential energy/resource efficiency technologies and potential opportunities for partnering via the IEEA.

Industry is the third largest emitting sector in the UK, representing 16% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Speeding up the adoption of low carbon, energy and resource efficiency technologies is key to delivering UK’s net zero targets, while bringing cost savings and bolstering competitiveness.
The IEEA supports partnerships between developers of efficient technologies and industrial companies willing to trial innovations on-site. A further £8 million in funding is being made available through the IEEA programme from 2022-2025.
The IEEA is funded through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), a £1 billion fund to support the development and adaptation of low carbon technologies and systems across industry, power and the built environment. It is anticipated that the BEIS IEEA funding will unlock up to £8-10 million of additional investment from the private sector to support the demonstrations.
By attending this session, you will:

Hear how the IEEA fits in with other funding programmes and the UK industrial decarbonisation strategy
Learn from previous IEEA participants about their experience as part of the programme
Find out how to apply for funding and the support available to help you complete your application
Have the opportunity to network with promising innovators presenting their technologies and interested industrial-sites looking for efficiency technologies to test

Who should attend?

Developers of energy and resource efficient technologies for industry
Industrial companies from all manufacturing sectors including metals, chemicals, food & drink, glass, plastics, mineral products , engineering and more
Research organisations, universities, consultants involved with the deployment of efficient technologies for industry

The Carbon Trust has been re-appointed to design and deliver the next phase of the BEIS IEEA programme, with support from Jacobs and KTN.
We will use any personal information you provide to deal with your event registration request and to keep you informed about the BEIS IEEA programme and other relevant funding programmes from the UK government.

NI Waste Expo 2021
2021-10-14 09:00 - 15:30 | Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast, Belfast, BT3 9EP, United Kingdom
Perfect events for fleet operators looking to keep abreast of the latest fleet compliance requirements and vehicle & tech developments

Reap the advantages of OWL’s integrated approach
The NI Waste Expo and the 2021 OWL Roadshows (Optimised Waste & Logistics) have an innovative revitalised programme that highlights best practice and forward-thinking for public sector fleet and operations managers and their contracting organisations.
These events are perfect for fleet operators looking to keep abreast of all the latest fleet compliance requirements and vehicle and technology developments. Topics tackled include electric vehicles, road transport air pollution, driver well-being, fleet safety and compliance, sustainability, improving service delivery and much more.
In the afternoon, there is an interactive workshop where peers can discuss and exchange best practice in an informal setting. The Electric Vehicle Workshop tackles several topics, including the efficient running of an RCV electric vehicle fleet and telematics and duty-cycle anxiety. A panel discussion called fleet electrification and the move towards cleaner air follows this session. Experts will tackle pertinent questions about de-carbonisation and electric RCVs for the attendees.
All the OWL Partners will show the latest technology at the industry exhibition, while the outside display has some of the newest vehicles on show.
For more information go to www.owlroadshows.com
Please note, non-qualified individuals are subject to a £250 attendance cost.
OWL events aim to bring together the public sector fleet management industry interactively and effectively. OWL has established itself as the UK and Ireland’s premier conference and exhibition series where end-users meet suppliers and OEMs to create an integrated approach for fleet management and vehicle and systems procurement. The OWL Partnership endeavours to promote efficiency, help deliver cost-savings, create a better return on investment, while helping to contribute to unpolluted air and a cleaner environment overall.
For organisations wishing to access untapped intelligence essential for remaining compliant and efficient, the OWL events are crucial.
CILT awards CPD points for attendance at OWL events.
Should you wish to exhibit at NI Waste Expo please contact Visie Communications, email: jason.pidgeon@visiecommunications.co.uk now to become part of this unique community.

UKAuthority Innovation & Data4Good 2021
2021-10-13 11:00 - 2021-10-15 12:30
Effective and innovative use of data powered the public sector’s covid response and evidenced the power of data for the public good

The public sector has relied heavily on its use of data in its pandemic response
New rules on sharing information across health unleashed vital information about the pandemic’s progression, identification of new treatments and innovation, and has underpinned the support of our most vulnerable.
Now that this power has been seen, what can we do next? What is the potential within data for unlocking public service improvement and innovation – for improving peoples’ lives?
This event is free to attend for the public sector and is CPD accredited.
Please register using your public sector email. Please note that registrations from personal email addresses may be rejected.
Speakers and agenda
11:00 to 12:30 – Wednesday, 13th October

Bethan Charnley, Head of Data Strategy Implementation, DCMS
Bill Mitchell, Director of Policy, BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT
Dionne Lowndes, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, London Borough of Southwark
Freddie Saunders, Data & Power Platform Specialist – Public Sector, Hitachi Solutions

11:00 to 12:30 – Thursday, 14th October

Graham Spearing, Data Alliance Product Lead, NHS Digital
Harvey Blenkarne, Public Sector Lead, Precisely and Suffolk County Council
Martin James, Senior Account Director, Precisely
Dawn Monaghan, Head of Information Governance policy, NHSX

11:00 to 12:30 – Friday, 15th October

Dr Arthur Turrell, Deputy Director, ONS Data Science Campus
Maddy Griffiths, Senior Policy Officer – Innovation Hub, ICO
Dr Tom Lawton, Head of Clinical AI & Consultant Critical Care, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Salman Klar, Insight and Analytics Manager, Richmond and Wandsworth councils

Contact Helen Olsen Bedford if you are interested in speaker or sponsorship opportunities: helen@ukauthority.co.uk
For a flavour of this virtual event visit last year’s Data4Good 2020
Who should attend?
All those involved in harnessing the power of data to help improve outcomes for our citizens and patients, including, but not limited to, NHS and Local Authority Chief Information Officers, Chief Digital / Data Officers, Data Scientists / Analysts, Heads of and Seniors of IT, Assistant and Chief Executives, Members, Heads of and leaders in Customer Services, Social Services, Environmental Services, Transformation or Change.
Registration
UKAuthority has full editorial control of this event thanks to support from our partners. By registering for this event you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation, job title and work email address with the UKAuthority editorial team and partner organisations hosting this event. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know direct by emailing: sian@ukauthority.co.uk

G-SIRT Briefing Webinar
2021-10-12 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
We are currently living through an unprecedented period of global challenges and change that increasingly threaten our planet. At the same time, organisations are subject to ever more complex regulatory pressures that often stand in the way of innovation. Regulatory technology (RegTech) can support organisations to become more agile and resilient in fulfilling their regulatory obligations and provide a competitive advantage.
Co-located in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry, ‘G-SIRT’ will be the UK’s national institute in RegTech, bringing together companies, academics and public bodies to drive world-class research and innovation; to understand and address at pace the real-world, cross-sectoral challenges within RegTech; and ensure the UK is acknowledged as the global hub for innovative and influential leadership in this area. If fully funded, we anticipate G-SIRT would create up to 16,500 (10,200 direct with 6,300 indirect and induced) new jobs and £931m in gross value added (GVA) by 2031.
G-SIRT will work alongside other initiatives and industry groups, such as the Centre for Finance Innovation Technology (as proposed by HM Treasury’s Kalifa Review) and the FinTech National Network, to strengthen industry collaboration between all nations of the UK, accelerate digital and data driven innovation, and unlock the associated economic benefits.
A proposition has been submitted into UK Government by Innovation City Belfast, G-SIRT has received enthusiastic backing from industry, academia and the NI Executive. Alongside Innovation City Belfast, Fintech NI (the industry representative body), Invest NI, Digital Catapult NI and Matrix (the science and industry panel) have all backed G-SIRT. The Department for Economy is also fully supportive, particularly in relation to the ‘10x Vision’ for the NI economy and its focus on FinTech as a strategic cluster.
Goals of the Session:
To share information on the G-SIRT proposal with a wider audience and answer any questions related to the proposal from this cross-functional RegTech group.

Lightning Share of the G-SIRT briefing document
Q&A session
Assess appetite from the group for a Phase 2 Working Session to solicit ideas

Date: Tuesday 12th October
Time: 5pm-6pm
Location: Online via Zoom
MODERATOR
Jacqueline McCann – Catalyst
PRESENTERS & PANELLIST
Alex Lee – Director, Fintech NI & Chair, FSCom – one of the leading regulation and compliance advisors to FinTech firms with offices in London, Dublin and Belfast.
Emma Pollock – CTO FinTru
Andrew Jenkins – Chairperson Fintech NI & Fintech Envoy for NI.
Mark Gillan – Interim Belfast Digital Commissioner at Belfast City Council/ Innovation City Belfast
Steve Orr – CEO, Catalyst
AGENDA
5.00pm Welcome and Set Up
5.05pm Briefing Document Lightning Share
5.35pm Q&A Session
5.55pm Vote on Follow-Up Session & Wrap up
6.00pm Close

An Introduction to the DHSC funded SBRI - Vaccines for epidemic diseases: Readiness for clinical development call for applications
2021-10-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Innovate UK will be delivering a 1-year SBRI competition Vaccines for Epidemic Diseases: Readiness for clinical development, on behalf of DHSC. The call will open on 11th October and close on 10th November 2021, with a proposed start date of 1st April 2022. This call is being announced in advanced of the official call opening as Innovate UK and DHSC recognise this is a busy and trying time, and wish to give organisations as much time as possible to plan potential applications. The call will be open to any organisation, including academic, research, and industry institutions.

Agenda
15:00 – Welcome & Logistics | Gabriela Juarez Martinez, KTN
15:05 – An update on the UKVN and the aims of the SBRI – Vaccines for epidemic diseases: Readiness for clinical developmentcall | Sarah Legrand, DHSC
15:25 – Details of the Call and Timelines | Phil Packer, Innovate UK
15:45 – Q&A
16:00 – Close

For any queries about this event please get in touch with KTN’s Gabriela Juarez Martinez.

TFI DEMO Competition Briefing & Capability for TFI Event
2021-10-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join Innovate UK and KTN for details of the new Transforming Foundation Industries Demonstrators Competition, followed by the Capability for TFI Event where you can learn about Research Organisations expertise and find consortium partners for DEMO.
TFI Demonstrators Competition provides the opportunity for UK businesses to apply for up to 2-year projects, greater than £5m in size, focussed upon sustainability developments for the foundation industries. The competition aim is to support the demonstration of the future technology required to improve the productivity and competitiveness of UK foundation industries, piloted at active foundation industry sites, de-risking future deployment for all foundation industries. This programme of events will help bring to life some of the key themes that will make up the competition and make connections across the industries.

Φ-week
2021-10-11 08:00 - 2021-10-15 17:00 | Online
The European Space Agency invites you to participate to the fourth edition of Φ-week on 11–15 October 2021.
This event focuses on how to accelerate the future of Earth Observation (EO), presenting recent developments in EO Open Science and latest trends in EO markets, exploring bold and transformative ideas that ESA’s Φ-lab and Data Applications Division supports and scales up along with researchers, start-ups, industry and private investors.
The main theme of Φ-week 2021 is the New Space economy and associated innovations. The sessions, posters and side-events will highlight how the New Space economy is developing in Europe and alongside competition worldwide, and how it can contribute to the EU Green Deal, Digital Europe Programme, Destination Earth initiative, UN SDGs, and in general to the EU Space Strategy and European space sector.
It will be a free-to-attend virtual event for the public and in person for invited speakers, COVID situation allowing it.

SPACE2CONNECT 2021 Conference
2021-10-11 08:00 - 2021-10-14 17:00 | Online
Join the European Space Agency’s first ever Space2Connect conference taking place between 11 to 14 October 2021. This virtual event will be streamed from ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk in the Netherlands, and we invite you to participate!
Space2Connect is a place to explore and discuss emerging space-based solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s digital economy. Giving an outline across the whole satcom upstream and downstream business value chain, we aim to foster partnerships and inspire new strategies for technology development and market growth.
The conference consists of both plenary and parallel sessions with virtual networking opportunities. The opening plenary sessions are where manufacturers, satellite operators, space agencies, small companies, entrepreneurs, technical experts and investors are encouraged to quiz executive-level guests who deliver keynote speeches.
During parallel sessions at Space2Connect we will continue to exchange ideas, share plans, develop relationships, and seek inspiration to thrive in the new space age. You will be able to choose from a wide range of topics showing the latest developments in advanced technology, products and services for satellite communications, discuss the role of space in rail and maritime transport, explore how space-enabled 5G/6G connectivity is transforming society, and much more!
