Innovate UK, the country’s national innovation agency, recently embarked on a visit to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, hosting a dynamic roundtable discussion with local businesses and key stakeholders, aimed at fostering innovation and creating value in the region.
The visit provided a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration, with Innovate UK CEO Indro Mukerjee joining Mayor Oliver Coppard, business leaders, investors, and sector representatives in a productive dialogue.
Chaired by Richard Stubbs, Chair of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority LEP, the roundtable commenced with a presentation by Dr Chris Low, Chief Executive of Legacy Park Ltd. The discussion centred around the innovation activities, successes, and challenges faced by the attendees, covering a wide range of topics crucial for driving growth and innovation in the region.
The roundtable tackled key areas, including identifying commercial innovation opportunities, exploring avenues for business support, accessing innovation finance, nurturing local and national networks, fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI), and addressing skills and talent gaps.
The participants engaged in thoughtful discussions, sharing their experiences and perspectives to collectively drive the region’s innovation agenda.
Coinciding with the Innovate UK visit, the event also provided an opportunity to connect with the founders of sports tech start-ups participating in Propel Team’s Jump Accelerator showcase event at the Park.
Innovate UK representatives had the chance to learn about the innovative products and services being developed by these forward-thinking entrepreneurs, opening doors for potential collaborations and partnerships.
Dr Chris Low, Chief Executive of Legacy Park Ltd, said: “We were delighted to host senior figures from both Innovate UK and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
“This gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our central role in the global pipeline of innovators and the impact we can have on those businesses through collaboration and support.
“We can uniquely bring them together with investors, industry and key institutions as well as creating a peer community that accelerates their success.”
