Join us during British Science Week for UVAC’s next Innovation Exchange, Ask, Innovate, Sustain: Powering the UK’s STEM Growth Ambitions, a one-day event bringing together education, industry and research to turn curiosity into impact. On 11 March 2026 at the National Composite Centre, Bristol, we’ll explore how curiosity-driven research, skills and technologies are shaping a greener, more sustainable future for the UK.

‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that  you may fear less’. Marie Curie

Curiosity is a powerful driver of innovation—turning questions into breakthroughs, that improve how we learn, work and live. It acts as an engine for growth, increasing discovery and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, greener future. As we celebrate British Science Week, the UVAC Innovation Exchange will bring together university colleagues, further and higher technical education providers, employers and wider stakeholders, to explore how curiosity-driven research, workforce foresighting, and skills development are shaping the UK’s ambitions in growth-driving industry sectors. 

Hosted at the National Composite Centre, the Exchange will spotlight how cutting-edge technologies and industrial applications are advancing the UK’s strategic priorities in Aerospace, Energy Securitisation and Digital Technologies. From lightweight composite materials enabling cleaner, more efficient flight, to digital modelling, automation, and data-driven manufacturing enhancing industrial performance, through to materials and digital innovation supporting renewable energy systems and infrastructure resilience, we will examine how ideas become impact, across product life cycles and industrial value chains. These technologies are central to reducing environmental impact, accelerating Net Zero ambitions and delivering the skilled workforce required for a greener and more sustainable future.  

This matters because unlocking the UK’s full potential requires a strong, future-focused STEM talent pipeline. Building capability and capacity across universities and technical education providers is critical to drive innovation, increase productivity and competitiveness, and to enable sustainable economic development. Colleagues will gain insight into the skills, partnerships and innovation approaches needed to develop the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technicians, across the sectors that will drive the UK’s future prosperity. 

By the end of the UVAC Innovation Exchange, participants will be able to: 

• Explain the role of curiosity-driven research and industrial foresighting in accelerating innovation and Net Zero ambitions.

• Identify emerging STEM workforce needs across key UK growth sectors including Aerospace, Energy Securitisation and Digital Technologies. 

• Evaluate real-world sustainability applications—such as lightweight composites and digital-enabled renewable systems—across product/technology life cycles. 

• Increase awareness of how universities, FE and higher technical skills providers contribute to capability and capacity building in the UK STEM innovation ecosystem. 

• Map opportunities for collaboration between higher education, further education and employers to strengthen the UK’s technical talent pipeline. 

• Explore frameworks and approaches that support quality improvement in technical education and workforce development. 

• Recognise the importance of building a diverse, skilled STEM workforce to drive productivity, innovation and sustainable economic growth 

Curious?

Join us at the Exchange to explore how curiosity fuels innovation, discover cutting-edge approaches that support a greener and more sustainable economy, and contribute to shaping the STEM workforce that will power the UK’s future. You will build valuable connections, gather insights to strengthen your strategy, and you will leave with ideas that you can put into action. We do hope you can join us and be part of the conversation .

REGISTER