Loughborough University will play a key role in the 2025 Leicester Innovation Festival (LIF), hosting events to strengthen local business growth through innovation, research, and collaboration. The festival, organised by the Business Gateway Growth Hub, runs from 31 March to 4 April and brings together public, private, and academic partners to support businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire.
One of the university’s key events, held online on 2 April, will focus on adopting digital technology in manufacturing. Led by Dr Kate Broadhurst from Loughborough Business School, the session will present findings from the £4.4 million InterAct programme, which explored the human impact of new technologies in the sector. The event will offer practical strategies for businesses integrating digital solutions into their operations.
On the same day, the university will co-host a business engagement event at Harborough Innovation Centre, showcasing opportunities for companies to collaborate with local universities. The session will cover industry placements, graduate recruitment, consultancy, and Innovate UK-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, which help businesses access academic expertise to drive innovation.
A Clean Tech networking event will occur on 4 April at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park. Organised by the LUinc. team, the event will connect Clean Tech entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and industry professionals through networking sessions, tech talks, and startup introductions.
Other organisations involved in LIF 2025 include De Montfort University, the University of Leicester, Innovate UK, the British Business Bank, and Charnwood Campus. All events are free to attend.
