View the full programme |
Event listings |
|
|---|---|---|
 |
Category: Events
Paris Airshow 2025
The Campaign will be attending the 2025 Paris Airshow. In collaboration with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA), the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will be:
- Bringing a delegation of Midlands University colleagues led by DfT Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Sarah Sharples & DBT Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Julia Sutcliffe to the Paris Airshow and convening a display pod and meeting point in the UK pavilion
- Hosting a Midlands Universities VIP reception for alumni at the British Embassy.
- Participating in the UK Paris Airshow reception at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris
View the Mission Call
About Paris Airshow 2025
The 55th International Paris Airshow, Le Bourget, Paris, France.
Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd June 2025.
For over a century, the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget has been the prime meeting place for the global aerospace industry.
Each new edition promises to be a fascinating epic. From intrepid pioneers to cutting-edge technologies, this show is where innovation takes flight, dreams soar, and the future is shaped.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, MAA, EMCCA, EMCA, DfT and DBT
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
MIPIM 2025
Europe’s largest science park, Arden Cross Health Tech Campus and six investment zones are just some of the major capital investment propositions set to feature as part of the Invest in UK University R&D campaign’s next overseas mission to MIPIM in March.
The world’s leading global real estate event will provide a platform for a delegation of the region’s university leaders to engage with international investors and promote the campaign’s 17 major capital investment opportunities, with Midlands universities alone representing £13.5bn of investment with the potential to create 35,000 jobs.
Supported by the Midlands Engine, a series of events will offer opportunities for our academic partners to engage directly with investors. The ‘Universities as Drivers of Economic Growth’ reception – will feature keynote speaker Rt. Hon. Greg Clark – Executive Chair of the Warwick Innovation District at the University of Warwick- and many more. This will be followed by the ‘Building for Innovation-led Growth’ lunch, held in collaboration with the West Midlands Growth Company.
Universities are now one of the most significant players in inward investment and innovation-led growth in the Midlands with their projects now representing around 25% of the region’s major capital investment pipeline.
Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation and co-lead for the mission, said:
“We can’t wait to bring our campaign to Cannes this March. Since our official launch last year, we have been showcasing the outstanding R&D strengths of the Midlands and elevating our region’s profile globally. By bringing universities together in this way, we have achieved so much more than we could have done as individual institutions. MIPIM will provide us with another opportunity to demonstrate the region’s extensive offerings to potential investors.”
MIPIM represents the campaign’s fifth overseas investment mission since its launch at UKREiiF last May. The ‘Urban Festival’ attracts more than 20,000+ delegates from across the world, including 5,000 investors and 4,800 developers.
It runs from 10th – 14th March.
Learn more about MIPIM – one of the largest real-estate events in the world
SXSW 2025
UK House – Midlands Takeover @ SXSW 2025
The Campaign will be attending SXSW. In collaboration with UKRI, Arts and Humanities Council and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Innovate UK, the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will
- Showcase the region’s Creative and Digital Industry-related university, science and innovation strengths at the Midlands showcase and reception
- Align our delegation and showcase opportunities with the DBT and Innovate UK Sector delegations, Creative and Digital Industry cluster organisations, cultural intuitions and Film, TV, Gaming and Fashion companies from across the midlands
- Engage our university alumni active in Texas/attending SXSW
View the Mission Call
Full Midlands Takeover Programme 2024
Campaign’s Main Events for SXSW:
Investor Breakfast Roundtable |
UK Universities Create: Innovation, SXSW Reception |
|
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
About SXSW
The SXSW Conference provides an opportunity for the global community of creatives to encounter cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network with other professionals who share a similar appetite for forward-focused experiences.
Featuring a variety of tracks that focus on the most important breakthroughs in technology, film, culture, and music, SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.
In 2024 there were over 1,200 artists from 55 countries on 65 SxSW stages.2
DOWNLOAD THE SXSW GO app
iOS: SXSW® GO – 2025 Event Guide on the App Store
Android: SXSW® GO – Apps on Google Play
Explore the UK House Programme @ SXSW 2025 >
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, DBT, Innovate UK, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
Boston AAAS
The Campaign will be hosting an activation in Boston, taking place between 12-14th February 2025. Activity will coincide with the 2025 AGM of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The mission is supported by the UK Consulate General in Boston and will align with a major delegation led by The Royal Society Foreign Secretary, Professor Sir Mark Walport and Charlotte Dean, Executive Chair of EPSRC.
Mission Focus:
- Our investment promotion priorities are Midlands Mindforge (Venture Capital) and Health and Life Sciences. We will be engaging AAAS delegates, the UK CG Boston VC contacts and Midlands alumni in these sectors living and working in Boston/MA.
- Our thought-leadership and positioning proposition is
- the distinctiveness of what we’re doing together as a collaboration
- universities as knowledge diplomacy actors at the sub-national level – serving as innovation bridges between places/ regions/ cities.
- The Campaign now has full sector pages updated online and will soon have a printed prospectus available for distribution
View the Mission Call
About AAAS Annual Meeting 2025
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025 – Saturday, February 15, 2025
Time: 8:00am – 9:00pm
Location: 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Hynes Convention Center
The 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting – Science Shaping Tomorrow – invites us to celebrate and strengthen the projects and collaborations among science, policy, and communication that already exist and promote the infusion of scientific and technical expertise into the public discourse and policymaking. We will highlight not only the responses to challenges and crises, but also marvel at what our future could be.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
MEDICA 2024
The Campaign will be attending the international MedTech conference, MEDICA 2024. The Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will
- showcase the region’s university, science and innovation strengths at a global event to potential investors and current partners (industry, government, universities).
- To demonstrate that by acting collectively, we can more effectively leverage our global connections to alumni, industry and university partners.
- To engage a targeted set of potential investors with appropriately selected university-led investment opportunities (i.e. Midlands Mindforge/ Sector propositions)
- To provide our academics, universities spin-outs and regional partners with a high-profile platform to support and further their own investment, research and innovation priorities.
View the Mission Call
About MEDICA
With >5,300 exhibitors from ~70 countries and 83,000 visitors MEDICA in Düsseldorf is one of the largest medical B2B trade fairs in the world.
A wide range of innovative products and services from the fields of medical imaging, laboratory technology, diagnostics, health IT, mobile health as well as physiotherapy/orthopaedic technology and medical consumables are presented.
The extensive programme of forums, conferences and shows provides opportunities for interesting presentations and discussions with experts and politicians, and also includes pitches of new products.
There are five spheres (themes) for MEDICA:
- Med tech and devices
- Digital Health
- Lab & Diagnostics
- Physiotech
- Disposables
The COMPAMED conference (complex high-tech solutions) runs in parallel.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
Berlin Falling Walls 2024 – Scoping Mission
The Campaign will be scoping Berlin Falling Walls 2024. The Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will
- Scope out the Falling Walls Science Summit as a possible priority option for the 2025 Campaign programme for engagement with German investors and partners
- Take up the invitation of the Secretary of State and the British Embassy in Germany to host a roundtable on behalf of the Campaign to promote inward investment into university R&D, bilateral relations at a regional level, FP10 and strategic innovation relations
- Showcase the region’s university, science and innovation strengths at a global event to potential investors and current partners (industry, government, universities) in Berlin
- Attend and participate in the Falling Walls Science Summit Circle at a senior level.
- Provide our academics and regional partners with a high-profile platform to support and further their own investment, research and innovation priorities.
View the Mission Overview
About Falling Walls
The Falling Walls Science Summit has established itself as a pivotal event for the global scientific community. Held annually from November 7th to 9th in Berlin, the summit convenes leading scientists, policymakers, and innovators to discuss groundbreaking research and address pressing global challenges.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
SWITCH – Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology 2024
The Campaign will be attending SWITCH, the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology 2024. In collaboration with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the British High Commission in Singapore, UKRI and Innovate UK, the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will
- Showcase and promote research collaborations with Singaporean partners, innovation strengths and R&D investment opportunities as part of the Midlands presence in the Global Pavilion at SWITCH, the most significant event of its kind in ASEAN attended by 22k+ delegates.
- Network and engage with senior investors, government, university and industry partners; including events targeted at VIP alumni of Midlands universities and hosted at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner’s residence
View the Mission Call
View the 2024 Programme
About SWITCH
Singapore’s preeminent week of Science, Innovation and Technology – used as a milestone for all major government agencies, funders, universities and tech companies to come together and as the culmination of major programmes like the Slingshot Prize
Location: Marina Bay Sands
Partners of the event include international countries (and their research agencies), global blue-chips and investment companies. All Singaporean research funders, agencies and universities have a presence.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, DSIT, UKRI, Innovate UK, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.
Birmingham Tech Week 2024
The Campaign will be attending Birmingham Tech Week. In collaboration with Tech West Midlands, the West Midlands Growth Company and the Midlands Engine Partnership, the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign will
- co-curate a programme that helps open up the event to universities and partners across the wider pan-region
- promote the Midlands as a destination for R&D and innovation investors/ delegations from our target markets via DBT and the Science and Innovation Network.
Activity developer in partnership with the campaign includes:
- Tech Leaders Breakfast and Leadership Roundtable with Secretary of State for DSIT, Rt. Hon Peter Kyle MP (Monday 21 October)
- Global Growth Congress, (Wednesday 23 October)
- Midlands University Science, Tech, Innovation and Enterprise Park Directors Lunch – and ‘meet the market’ co-location networking at Global Growth Congress (Wednesday 23 October)
- Universities, innovation and investment dinner in partnership with Tech WM, West Midlands Growth Company, West Midlands Combined Authority, Brewin Dolphin and Birmingham City Council at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham, (Thursday 24 October)
- University award at Scale-up day (Thursday 24 October)
About Birmingham Tech Week
Birmingham Tech Week is the Midlands’ most significant innovation, investment and technology event. The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign is working with Tech West Midlands, the West Midlands Growth Company and the Midlands Engine Partnership to co-curate a programme that helps open up the event to universities and partners across the wider pan-region, as well as promote it as a destination for R&D and innovation investors/ delegations from our target markets via DBT and the Science and Innovation Network.
Get Involved
The Campaign will be working with the Midlands Engine Partnership, TechWM, West Midlands Growth Company and the East Midlands County Combined Authority
Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.