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PRODID:-//Columba Systems Ltd//NONSGML CPNG/SpringViewer/ICal Output/3.3-
 M3//EN
VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260911T122805Z
DTSTART:20261118T120000Z
DTEND:20261118T170000Z
SUMMARY:Sustainable Futures’ 2026 Innovation Lab: Thriving\, Inclusive an
 d Sustainable Places
UID:{http://www.columbasystems.com/customers/uom/gpp/eventid/}a23-mtvgonm
 5-arojrk
DESCRIPTION:Are you a Greater Manchester-based organisation responsible f
 or delivering\, managing or shaping essential services\, utilities\, inf
 rastructure or community amenities? Do you have an environmental challen
 ge or innovation opportunity that could be delivered through academic co
 llaboration?\n\nSecure up to £10\,000 in seed funding while developing r
 elationships\, evidence\, tools\, pilots and pathways to accelerate sust
 ainable place-based transformation.\n\nOn Wednesday\, 18th November\, Su
 stainable Futures will be hosting its second annual Innovation Lab. The 
 Lab will explore key questions\, including how to accelerate the adoptio
 n of climate-resilient infrastructure\, restore nature at scale\, reduce
  energy and resource consumption\, and empower communities to shape loca
 lly appropriate responses. \n\nWho should apply\n\nWe are looking for Gr
 eater Manchester organisations with a challenge or innovation opportunit
 y aligned with our 2026 mission\, Thriving\, Inclusive and Sustainable P
 laces\, particularly those relating to the delivery and management of es
 sential infrastructure\, utilities and community amenities.\n\nTo apply\
 , you will need to:\n\n·	Share a high-level overview of your environment
 al challenge/question/opportunity where academic input could add value.\
 n\n·	Commit 2-3 representatives to attend the in-person\, half-day\, Inn
 ovation Lab on University campus.\n\nChallenge/opportunity areas could a
 ddress\, but aren’t limited to:\n\n•	Decarbonising and climate-proofing 
 homes\, transport systems and critical infrastructure.\n\n•	Sustainable 
 water management\, including water scarcity\, flood resilience and water
  quality improvement.\n\n•	Reducing resource use\, waste and emissions t
 hrough circular and alternative economic models.\n\n•	Scaling nature-bas
 ed solutions and biodiversity recovery to increase ecosystem and societa
 l resilience.\n\n•	Improving climate readiness\, health\, wellbeing and 
 equity through resilient\, accessible and sustainable community amenitie
 s\, public spaces and local services.\n\nThe Innovation Lab Process\n\nS
 uccessful applicants will be matched with multidisciplinary academic res
 earchers. Over the course of the Innovation Lab\, teams will:\n\n•	Defin
 e the Challenge: Collaboratively refine the specific sustainability prob
 lems presented by partners.\n\n•	Generate Solutions: Engage in creative 
 thinking activities to develop multidisciplinary approaches.\n\n•	Assess
  Feasibility: Use a feasibility matrix to identify the most viable and i
 mpactful solutions.\n\n•	Pitch for Funding: Present a project plan to an
  expert panel for immediate seed corn funding.\n\nSuccessful pitches wil
 l secure up to £10\,000 seed funding to pay for academic expertise to de
 velop the project plan and help overcome the organisation’s challenge.\n
 \nFunding is intended for exploratory\, feasibility\, or scoping studies
  (e.g.\, literature reviews\, focus groups\, or "proof of concept" demon
 strators) rather than full-scale solutions.\n\nHow to apply\n\nApplicant
 s should complete the Expression of Interest form by 14th October 2026.\
 n\nWhen selecting Lab participants\, consideration will be given to:\n\n
 •	A clear and focused challenge\, meaningful to both academics and busin
 ess\, policy\, and/or civil society.\n\n•	Alignment to Sustainable Futur
 e’s mission ‘Thriving\, Inclusive and Sustainable Places’ and the delive
 ry and management of essential infrastructure\, utilities and community 
 amenities.\n\n•	Future growth: A primary goal is to use these seed proje
 cts to build relationships and evidence for larger collaborative researc
 h proposals such as KTPs or IAA funding.\n\n•	Social engagement: Communi
 ty-engaged and/or co-produced approaches that deliver locally relevant a
 nd socially just outcomes.\n\nWhile not mandatory\, partner organisation
 s are encouraged to provide match-funding or in-kind support to enhance 
 the project’s scope.\n\nFurther support\n\nIf you have any questions reg
 arding the relevance of your environmental challenge or want to discuss 
 the opportunity more broadly\, please contact Lucy.Latham@manchester.ac.
 uk to organise an informal chat.\n
STATUS:TENTATIVE
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
LOCATION:University of Manchester Campus
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