Some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies and organisations will be shouting about their achievements during the third annual Leicester Innovation Week later this month.
The week-long celebration takes places from February 24 to 28 and offers a platform for businesses, universities and support organisations to showcase the Leicester and Leicestershire area as a hub for creativity, design, research, development, technology and world-class engineering.
The region has always punched above its weight when it comes to technology and scientific progress.
Sir Alec Jeffreys changed the world in 1984 when he uncovered the secrets of genetic fingerprinting in his lab at the University of Leicester.
The same university has been pioneering research into satellite technology for decades, while Loughborough University is home to world-beating engineering and sports science departments.
Meanwhile more than £100 million is being invested into Space Park Leicester, currently being built in the edge of the city.
Innovation Week 2020 is being led by the government agency Innovate 海角视频 and delivered in partnership with the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses, De Montfort University, Loughborough University and University of Leicester.
A launch event for the week is being organised by business support body the Business Gateway Growth Hub, on Monday, February 24 at science-based technology company 3M, located on the Charnwood Campus in Loughborough.
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Delegates will hear from Professor Robert Allison, vice-chancellor and president of Loughborough University who will talk about innovation, technology and collaboration.
Prof Allison said: “Innovation is key to business growth and profitability, though some business owners find it difficult to navigate the support available and how to access it.
“We want to address this with Leicester Innovation Week and provide a platform for innovative businesses and individuals across Leicestershire to shout about their experience and achievements, and signpost to current support.”
Other events include the LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards on Thursday, February 27.
LeicestershireLive is a sister site to BusinessLive and incorporates the Leicester Mercury and the awards celebrate the very best technology, services, digital advances and creative thinking that Leicester and Leicestershire have to offer.
The awards day at the Morningside Arena in Leicester will include an free exhibition offering the chance to meet the finalists between 2pm and 4pm.
The awards takes place later that evening and judges are in the process of picking the finalists and ultimate winners.
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Last year’s Innovator of the Year award went to ChatHealth, an NHS messaging service that allows families and young people to speak confidentially with health professionals by simply sending a text.
The service is now used across the country and its success fully exemplifies how the use of technology can impact people’s lives for good and bring about positive change.
ChatHealth project lead Jimmy Endicott said: “ChatHealth is an absolutely unique Leicestershire innovation that’s now available to millions of people across the 海角视频.
“It was great that the awards recognised how our local public health nurses have helped make improvements across the entire NHS.
“It’s also been a real springboard for us to be able to connect with other local innovators from different kinds of industries and backgrounds – it’s those kind of unexpected connections that lead to other new things happening.”
The events programme also includes a Harborough District Council “Creating an Innovative Culture” seminar where businesses can find out how to take risks, fulfil staff potential and create an environment to inspire innovation.
In addition, Leicester Innovation Hub – part of the University of Leicester – will run an “Advanced Engineering and Product Design Innovation” seminar providing details of the new support for advanced engineering businesses and the high-tech facilities from the University of Leicester’s Space Park Leicester, aimed at those interested in developing new products or components.