Expo Sunderland Challenge Launch

Expo Sunderland and Innovation SuperNetwork have been engaging with key stakeholders and innovation champions from across industry and the public sector to define priority opportunities for development and adoption of innovative solutions.  The Challenge launch will define where these opportunities are and provide an overview and the support available for Sunderland businesses to promote and develop solutions in response.

If you are a Sunderland based business, start-up or voluntary sector organisation working in the following areas, we would love to see you at the launch:

Future Homes including solutions that contribute to delivering greener, affordable homes for all Sunderland residents.  This may cover retrofit, new build, modern methods of construction, new materials, and innovative solutions used within the home to ensure homes that are greener, energy efficient and better to live in.

Future Living including solutions that support happier, healthier, more connected lives for all Sunderland residents, with community engagement and community-led initiatives central to solutions developed.

Future City including solutions that help to realise the potential of Sunderland, utilising assets such as its position as a connected, smart-city as well as its existing industrial base, infrastructure and environment, and build pride and engagement across the city and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The Challenge Launch event on 11 September will give you the opportunity to:

• Learn about opportunities for innovation relating to the Challenge themes from key industry partners
• Hear from key leaders from industry and government about the test beds, support facilities and funds that can support your innovation and growth activity
• Explore opportunities for collaboration with key stakeholders who need solutions such as the ones you can offer
• Learn more about the Expo programme and opportunities to showcase your business and offering through our upcoming event programme and digital pavilion
• Build your network of key business contacts in the region
• Learn about our upcoming programme of innovation support for those developing solutions, including our innovation skills bootcamp that might be of interest to members of your team leading on innovation activity.

Event agenda:

• 9am – Arrival and registration
• 9:30am – Event launch, welcome and introductions
• 9:45am – Lightening talks on ‘Opportunities for Innovation and Growth’ from key stakeholders from industry and government – where is innovation needed and how can your business respond?
• 10:30am – Interactive Session – exploring opportunities for collaboration and adoption
• 11:50am – Overview of support available for solutions to be developed and adopted and partnerships to be advanced
• 12:30am – Close - followed by networking lunch

The Expo Sunderland Challenge provides a great opportunity to bring together those who want to see the potential of Sunderland as an amazing city in which to live, work, learn and do business, and to ensure that the innovators of Sunderland can access growth opportunities that will deliver social as well as economic benefit.

We hope to see you there and that you will be keen to support us in driving innovation and impact in Sunderland.

Please register using this link to confirm your attendance.  Attendance is limited so if you are unable to attend, please do forward on the invite to a member of your team or a collaborator who would be well-placed to contribute to the activity.

This project is funded by UK Government through UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you there.