The Henry Royce Institute biennial Conference, Collaborate to Innovate – took place on the University of Manchester Campus on 6th and 7th September, during what turned out to be a blazing hot September week.
WATCH THE CONFERENCE PLENARIES ON VIMEO
The event saw 10 fantastic plenary speakers, 12 breakouts and 60 associated speakers and panellists, as well as an Imaging and Characterisation Showcase in the Royce Hub Building Foyer. It also embraced a Conference Dinner at the Manchester Art Gallery on the first evening.
Huge thanks go to all the brilliant keynotes, as well as the Session Leads and their expert guest speakers. On the first day we explored Material Challenges across Hydrogen, Fusion, Plastics, Materials 4.0 and the Foundation Industries; on day two Royce Chief Scientist Professor Phil Withers, introduced a deep dive into the science, with the attention focussed on Royce’s Research Areas and Technology Platforms and a full day of well-attended breakout sessions.
The conference itself was opened by Royce CEO, Professor David Knowles who explored the Institute’s journey to date and outlined the vision to develop advanced materials for a sustainable society with challenge led materials research. He set out how Royce has fully transitioned into its operational phase, and put the spotlight on a number of exciting materials innovation projects underway. Dave Knowles also talked through plans for a newly developing National Materials Innovation Strategy.
All delegates attending the Conference were also invited to join the Royce inaugural Imaging and Characterisation Showcase which took place at the Royce Hub Building. The Showcase promoted Royce Imaging and Characterisation capabilities from across the Partnership, embracing our state-of-the-art equipment which can probe the structure, composition, and mechanical properties of all materials from macro down to nanoscale.
Commenting on the success of the conference, Royce CEO Prof David Knowles said:
“We’re delighted that the 2023 national conference attracted such a fantastic diverse audience from both industry and academia. As a national institute, we’re here to support the whole materials community and we continue to strengthen collaboration with many of the delegates who attended the event.
“We hope that the event has stimulated a range of conversations and associations – we aim for this to be a stand out conference in the materials research and innovation ecosystem – convening this community has never been more important as we looks to prioritise high-potential areas where materials innovation can make an impact in creating new forms of value, while addressing national priorities.”
Royce’s engagement activities will continue to focus on broadening the communities across both its research areas and national materials challenges, as well as once again supporting the Materials Research Exchange in 2024. Royce will bring the materials science community back together again in 2025 for the next Henry Royce Institute National Conference, to be held 3rd – 4th September 2025, at the MECD Building in Manchester
