In partnership with Innovate UK Business Connect, the Henry Royce Institute will once again be a headline partner for the Materials Research Exchange 2026, scheduled to take place from 18-20 February 2026 at the Business Design Centre in London.
This flagship event is expected to attract over 3,000 delegates across three days, bringing together the UK’s materials community under one roof. Participant organisations include Royce Partners, leading RTOs, policy makers, investors, and industry.
MRE 2026 will feature an exciting mix of keynote talks, panel discussions, and networking sessions that will explore the practical strategies for translating research into commercial success.
The Materials Research Exchange has long been recognised as a cornerstone event of the UK’s materials science and innovation community. For researchers, it represents an opportunity to share knowledge and connect with industry leaders. For businesses, it is a gateway to emerging technologies and partnerships. And for investors, it is a chance to discover groundbreaking innovations ready for commercialisation.
Royce Conference
On the 19 February Royce will lead a Conference From Lab to Business: Turning Deep Tech Research into Real-World Impact
The Royce MRE Conference will explore how to accelerate the journey from university research to market-ready innovation. Our speakers will discuss practical strategies for transforming high-impact materials science and other deep-tech breakthroughs into successful industrial applications and ventures.
Professor David Knowles Royce CEO will open the programme with an introduction and an update setting out where the UK is heading in materials science and the infrastructure that will support future breakthroughs. Dr Robert Sorrell, CEO of the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator, will highlight how early-stage hydrogen technologies can be strategically accelerated to help deliver the UK’s future energy and net-zero ambitions.
We’ll then turn to the evolution of the innovation pipeline. Royce Vic-Chair Annalisa Gigante will discuss how the UK can build stronger, faster pathways from research to commercialisation. Professor Roger Reed will share Alloyd’s “full-stack” approach and UCL Business Marina Santilli will outline how TTOs support commercialisation strategies to create more efficient routes for spin-outs, licensing and industry partnerships.
Dr Rebecca Myers will introduce the Royce Catalyst programme, which is designed to embed entrepreneurship into materials research culture and support future founder-scientists. An innovation panel will then debate what the UK must put in place to ensure that deep-tech innovations can scale and make lasting real-world impact.
We’ll be inviting delegates to join us to discover how higher education institutions (HEIs), industry and investors can work together to turn materials research excellence into market success.
Royce invites the materials community to join us at the MRE 2026 and be part of the conversation shaping the future of UK materials innovation.
To learn more about the event and register your interest, please visit the Materials Research Exchange 2026 website here [insert link: (https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/events/materials-research-exchange-2026/).
