Joining the conversation on the UK’s industrial future

On 9 July, Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP) contributed to high-level discussions at the UK Manufacturing Forum (UKMF) event, held at Aston University, focused on delivering the UK’s 10-year industrial strategy.

Bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the wider innovation ecosystem, the event provided a platform for aligning priorities and shaping collective action in support of the UK’s manufacturing future.

A morning agenda included presentations from the Department for Business and Trade on the modern industrial strategy, a keynote speech from Brian Holliday, Managing Director for Siemens Digital Industries, and panel sessions chaired by Sarah Sharples, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport, and Sarah Black-Smith, General Manager for Motion Control at Siemens.

CIIP was actively involved throughout the day. Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete spoke on a panel exploring the role of RTOs and academia in the successful delivery of the strategy. She reflected on the importance of evidence-based approaches to maximise long-term impact.

David Leal-Ayala chaired a roundtable on UK competitiveness and the role of technology – a critical theme in the broader national strategy. The discussion brought together perspectives from business, government, and research to explore how the UK can grow and anchor advanced manufacturing capabilities domestically.

Afternoon workshops also included themes covering:

• Skills for industrial transformation
• Regulation
• Scale-up and retaining value in the UK
• Infrastructure and place

Established in 2018, UKMF gathers leading academics, knowledge experts and senior figures from industry and government to explore emerging trends and cultivate opportunities for collaboration across the national manufacturing ecosystem.

CIIP’s engagement forms part of its ongoing mission to support policy development that enables a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive UK manufacturing system. By contributing policy insight and convening cross-sector dialogue, CIIP helps ensure that innovation and strategy delivery remain closely aligned.