The Materials Research Exchange returns for its 10th year
Published: 18 April, 2024
Nanotechnology, biomaterials, textiles, polymers, metals and glass; MRE 2024 will delve into a diverse range of sustainable and functional materials innovations when it returns to the Business Design Centre, London, from 23 – 24 April 2024.
More than 1,500 materials innovators and investors, researchers, academics, as well as representatives from industry and government, will come together for Innovate UK’s Materials Research Exchange (MRE).
As well as the usual informative and exciting cross-cutting presentations and panel discussions, this tenth anniversary edition of MRE will feature four flagship initiatives:
• Circular Critical Materials Conference: A series of talks delving into the Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains Programme and the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy
• Reimagining Materials and Manufacturing Showcase: A look at the tech that will help the UK become a world-class destination of choice for advanced low-carbon manufacturing, as set out in the Materials and Manufacturing Vision 2050 report
• GRIPS: The Global Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability conference, exploring the intersection of materials science with sustainability and innovation in plastics
• Investor Showcase: A spotlight for investors on materials innovators from both cutting-edge projects from UK universities, and established companies
Robert Quarshie, Director of Technologies & Healthy Living and Materials lead at Innovate UK Business Connect, says, “MRE 2024 is an opportunity to network with the entire UK materials ecosystem. Not only will delegates learn about all the latest materials R&D and funding initiatives, but they’ll also have chance meetings with potential partners and investors.
“In that way, MRE really is a catalyst for change. It’s the place where the UK’s research and innovation excellence in materials meets the world of UK product manufacturers and forward-thinking investors.
“As it’s our tenth anniversary, MRE 2024 will be bigger and better than ever before. Excitingly, there’ll be representatives from Innovate UK, EPSRC, and the Royce Institute playing key roles in the event, meaning projects at any stage of the pipeline will be able to talk directly with someone who can help them.”
Alex Broomsgrove, Head of Advanced Materials at EPSRC, says, “The Materials Research Exchange has always been incredibly broad in terms of scope. This year it goes further than ever before. There’ll be something for everyone there, from fundamental science to fully commercialised projects, and we’re really excited for it.”
Professor Dave Knowles, CEO of the Royce Institute, says “The Materials Research Exchange is an excellent national platform to engage in important conversations with the materials innovation community. Our conference on the first day will put the spotlight on the multidisciplinary aspects of our subject and show how materials science is unlocking potential in key areas from engineering biology, through to plastics sustainability and the development of materials for extreme environments with a line-up of fantastic speakers.
"We'll be focusing on the National Materials Challenges and our exciting newly-developing major collaborative programmes, DMex, CEAMS, SMI Hub [smihub.ac.uk] and Economiser, We’ll also be talking about the important first phase of the National Materials Innovation Strategy which is aimed at ensuring the UK has a world-leading position in rapidly expanding materials markets - supporting researchers and innovators to commercialise their discoveries. We look forward to seeing you there!”
Click here for more information and to register for MRE 2024.
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