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Talk / Lecture - Accelerating Sustainable Material Innovation Across the UK Foundation Industries

Talk / Lecture -  Accelerating Sustainable Material Innovation Across the UK Foundation Industries


Accelerating Sustainable Material Innovation Across the UK Foundation Industries

Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association - Talk / Lecture

By: Dr Lucy Smith, Materials Processing Institute


Date: 29 Oct 2024

Time: 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Venue: Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria Sheffield

and online


Join Dr Lucy Smith from the Materials Processing Institute to hear more about accelerating innovation in the UK Foundation Industries

The Foundation Industries - metals, glass, ceramics, cement, chemicals, and paper are vital to the UK manufacturing and construction sectors. Together, these industries employ over 250,000 people, generate turnover of more than £67 billion annually, yet contribute 10% of the UK CO2 output annually. As approximately 75% of the materials we see around us have been made by one of these six industries and will continue to be required by society past 2050, the goal to achieve net-zero in the next 25 years is critical.

Despite the clear importance of these industries, the UK Foundation Industries are less innovative than in other competitive countries; over a third of businesses have not introduced new innovation in the last three years; smaller businesses are less likely to be innovative than larger companies; and there is hesitancy around innovation adoption.

Start-ups and spinouts are leading the way in innovation for the Foundation Industries in the UK, but do not have the support they need to move through to commercialisation.

This lecture will outline the barriers and enablers to accelerating innovation in the UK Foundation Industries including regulation, intellectual property, investment, and many more.


You can listen in person or online using the following Zoom link: ID 827 8390 7857 password SMEA1894 Coffee & Tea from 18:00 Non-members welcome.

More information and online: https://www.iom3.org/group/sheffield-metallurgical-engineering-association-smea/meeting.html?id=0EDE1A66-7A79-45E5-AA8EA6775E02A779


Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association

The Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association (SMEA) is the voice of the materials community in South Yorkshire. Its origins go back to 1894 with the formation of the Sheffield Society of Engineers and Metallurgists.

SMEA is affiliated to IOM3.


Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium

The Materials Processing Institute is a member of the the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC) that brings together global leaders in innovation, research and technology from across the cement, metal, glass, ceramic, paper, polymer and chemical industries.

18 October 2024