The Henry Royce Institute (Royce) was delighted to take part as the headline sponsor of the Materials Research Exchange (MRE) 2026, a key biennial event in the UK materials calendar which took place this year between 18–20 February. Bringing together leaders from academia, industry, government and investment communities, MRE once again showcased the people, ideas and ambition driving the future of materials research and innovation in the UK.
The event opened with a Welcome Address from Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister for Science, who set out the government’s vision for materials and the new National Materials Innovation Programme and reaffirmed advanced materials as a frontier industry within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. His remarks set the tone for two days of insightful discussion and collaboration.
This was followed by an outstanding programme of speakers who highlighted the breadth and strength of the UK materials ecosystem.
The line-up was introduced by Innovate UK’s Fran McIntyre:
- Dr Bruce Adderley, Director Innovate UK on how innovation funding is supporting businesses to grow and compete
- Charlotte Deane MBE, Executive Chair of EPSRC, outlining vital support for world-leading materials research (broadcast presentation)
- Prof Alan Partridge, Director of DMEx, Henry Royce Institute, showcasing excellence in UK defence materials research and innovation
- Tom Andrews NCC – Innovating for Industry on strategic materials priorities for the UK
A compelling session on investing and scaling materials innovation followed, with real-world perspectives from:
- Victoria Carter from QinetiQ
- Natalia Fares, Investor at Volta Circle
FROM LAB TO BUSINESS – THE ROYCE-LED CONFERENCE
The afternoon of day one transitioned into a Royce-led conference, opened by Professor David Knowles, Royce CEO, who provided a strategic update on the Institute’s mission, progress and growing momentum.
Keynote contributions included:
- Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, on engineering innovation and national capability and the importance of productive collisions and knocking down frictions
- Dr Robert Sorrell, CEO of the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator, on accelerating early-stage hydrogen technologies from lab to market
- Annalisa Gigante, Vice Chair of the Royce Governing Board, mapping the innovation pipeline from advanced research to market-ready solutions
- Professor Roger Reed (University of Oxford), sharing Alloyed’s journey from university research to global metals innovation
- Marina Santilli, Interim Director at UCL Business, on fast and effective pathways for commercialisation, spin-outs and licensing
The day concluded with an important session on sustainability and innovation, led by Dr Sarah Harrold and Dr Lucy Smith, Co-Directors of the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium and founders of FIVe (Foundation Industries Ventures), followed by a lively and thought-provoking innovation panel discussion Chaired by David Knowles and Royce Head of Research and Business Engagement, Dr Ania Jolly.
Day two of the in-person event saw another fantastic programme, embracing the Metamaterials Innovation Landscape, an Investor Showcase and of course the well-established MRE Poster Competition.
THE ROYCE VILLAGE
Alongside the conference programme, Royce hosted a major exhibition presence at MRE. The Royce Village exhibition stand brought together 11 Royce Institute Partners, providing a visible and vibrant showcase of collaborative research, shared capability and collective impact across the UK materials landscape.
Royce would like to extend sincere thanks to all Royce Partners who contributed to the stand for their continued support and engagement. It was a pleasure to welcome so many visitors to the Royce Village, to share insights, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for future partnership.
Royce CEO Professor David Knowles said:
“We are extremely grateful to all speakers, panellists, exhibitors and delegates who helped make the MRE 2026 such a success. Events like this underline the importance of collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and Royce is proud to play a central role in championing excellence, innovation and real-world impact across the materials ecosystem. It was an inspiring two days of discussion and connection, thank you to everyone involved.”
