Made Smarter Network+

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: Business and Economics

Abstract

The Made Smarter Network+ (MSN+) has two primary roles. To:

1. Develop and support the creation of an effective digital innovation ecosystem to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of Industrial Digital Technologies.
2. Ensure that the full range and depth of social and economic science insights are accessed across the Made Smarter challenge and wider UK manufacturing sector

This is an exciting £3.83m, 38 month programme of work that will commence on 1st November 2021 and end on 31st December 2024. The programme is led by the MSN+ co-directors Prof. Jan Godsell (Loughborough University) and Prof. Jill MacBryde (Strathclyde Business School) with support from a dedicated Network Management Team (network, communications and impact managers) and a core research team (from Loughborough, Strathclyde and Sheffield Universities). There are 5 key elements to the programme:

- Commissioned research programme - will provide the opportunity to curate, augment and amplify insights from the ESS to support the diffusion and adoption of IDTs. 5 different funding mechanisms have been adopted to broaden the appeal of the programme and increase participation. These include systematic reviews, small projects, a sandpit, Early Career Researcher (ECR) Fellowship programme, and an impact acceleration fund resulting in18 interdisciplinary projects.

- Knowledge exchange programme - is critical to the diffusion of ideas from the ESS to the policy makers, manufacturers and IDT providers who could benefit from the adoption of IDTs. The comprehensive programme includes a range of activities that amplify the core research programme (international webinars, discovery days, annual conference), provide education and insights (impact workshops, insight days, summer school), support academic publication (special tracks, journal special issue) and enable and amplify the diffusion of ideas (website and curation platform, mentoring programme, access to Emerald impact services).

- Core research programme - compliments the commissioned research programme base by addressing more systemic problems that require a longer term and more in-depth research. It has the additional benefit of providing a common purpose to galvanise the team. Future focused it considers the future of manufacturing ecosystems (Prof. Jan Godsell and Dr Alok Choudray, Lougborough), future of work (Prof. Jill MacBryde and Prof. Colin Lindsay, Strathclyde) and the future of the economy (Prof. Vania Sena and Prof. Philip McCann, Sheffield).

- Impact acceleration programme - there are lots of ESS insights currently in existence, that are not in a form that is easily accessible to policy makers, manufacturers and IDT providers. Researchers often lack the time and skills to turn their work into more accessible outputs. An impact acceleration programme has the dual benefit of building impact capacity within the ESS community whilst making the insights more accessible to end users.

- Storytelling fellowship programme - the ability to use storytelling as a methodology and form of dissemination is a key research skill for economic and social scientists. The storytelling fellowship programme has the dual benefits of building storytelling capacity within the ESS whilst using stories to make insights more accessible to the end users, the network and society at large.

Outputs from the programme are aligned to the Made Smarter business case. Conservatively through the core and commissioned research programmes alone, we deliver 19 new inter-disciplinary collaborations, 30 journal papers and 11 case studies.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title A cyber-security readiness tool. 
Description InterAct commissioned research project "RESTRAIN: Socio-cultuRal bEhaviour of end-uSers To specific cybeR-threAts In maNufacturing" led by Veniamin Boiarkin, Professor Muttukrishnan Rajarajan, Professor Rajkumar Roy and Professor Katy Tapper (City, University of London, United Kingdom) - a cyber-security assessment tool has been developed that can be used by organizations to evaluate their cyber-security weaknesses and direct them toward appropriate solutions. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact N/A 
URL https://cybertool.co.uk/test
 
Title Business model innovation and digital servitization in UK manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises - InterAct DigiServe 
Description Microsite, toolkit, video training manual and practitioner webinar. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact This research was conducted by Dr. Dimitrios Dousios and Dr. Antonios Karatzas (University of East Anglia) and was supported by an InterAct Open Funding Call grant. This project explores the application of digital servitization business models in the context of UK Manufacturing Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), by empirically depicting its antecedents and firm-level implications. Following the completion of a large empirical study, the key contextual and organisational factors that determine successful implementation of business models have been identified. The study's key findings suggest that SMEs can achieve high performance through adoption of digital servitization business models, depending on how well each model aligns with the organisation's context and design. To assist the UK Manufacturing community, in addition to the main report, the project's deliverables are accessible to stakeholders through its dedicated microsite, a self-assessment SME toolkit, video training manual and practitioner webinar. 
URL https://interact-digiserve.co.uk/
 
Title Industrial metaverse prototype. 
Description A prototype of industrial metaverse. InterAct commissioned researchers from the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge - After completing the conceptual model, researchers purchased 3D glasses, and a set of related tools to develop a prototype. The prototype shows the supply chain of a cocoa manufacturer, and the way how the customer and anybody from the supply chain can get back to production level and control the production conditions. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact N/A 
 
Title Insights from History - video 
Description "Insights from History" - video introduction (Systematic Review funded by InterAct) (December 2022) Dr. Ahmad Beltagui, Dr. Brian Sudlow of Aston University Dr. Miying Yang and Glen Jonata.of Cranfield University, and Qinglan Liu of Exeter University. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact The video as an output has been added to the impact plan for this project. The video is available on the InterAct website and there has been much interest from the InterAct network. 
URL https://interact-hub.org/2022/12/12/insights-from-history-video-introduction/
 
Title Insights from History: technological change in the mining industry - animated explainer (video) 
Description 'Insights from History' : technological change in the mining industry - animated explainer (video) (December 2022) (Systematic Review funded by InterAct). By Dr. Ahmad Beltagui, Dr. Brian Sudlow of Aston University Dr. Miying Yang and Glen Jonata.of Cranfield University, and Qinglan Liu of Exeter University. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact This animated explainer has been added as an output to the impact map for the project. The video is available on the Resources section of the InterAct website, and there has been much interest. 
URL https://interact-hub.org/2022/12/12/actionable-insights-from-the-past-what-can-we-learn-from-history...
 
Title InterAct Network - Storytelling Fellowship Programme Story Series 
Description A series of videos developed by participants of the InterAct Storytelling Fellowship Programme. 'Technology is great' - Ahmad Beltagui 'A family business, a family story' - Allan Discua Cruz 'A Butterfly Dream' - Yang Lu 'Challenging Thoughts' - Amy Ayling 'Digital Dinosaurs' - Susan Lattanzio 'Supplying Information' - Claire Palmer 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Some of the videos were screened at an evening event following the InterAct Annual Conference on 3rd October 2022. Feedback received following the event was very positive and there has been much interest. Three further cohorts have since participated on the Storytelling Fellowship Programme. 
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/02/15/storytelling-fellowship-videos/
 
Title Knowledge spillovers tracker in Advanced Manufacturing 
Description The tool allows to track the citations of advanced manufacturing patents by LAs in the UK. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact No impact yet 
 
Title Making investments into digitalisation: the manufacturer's perspective - animated (video) explainer 
Description 'Making investments into digitalisation: the manufacturer's perspective' - animated (video) explainer (December 2022) (Systematic Review funded by InterAct). By Dr Andreas Schroeder, Dr Yang Zhao and Dr Daniel Andrews of Aston University. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact The explainer video has been added to the impact plan for this project. The video is available in the Resources section of the InterAct website, and there has been much interest. 
URL https://interact-hub.org/2022/12/12/making-investments-into-digitalisation-the-manufacturers-perspec...
 
Title Perceptions of Manufacturing Video. 
Description This video is an output of the InterAct-funded project "How to make manufacturing charming again? It is everything, everywhere, all at once". The research was conducted by Dr. Guendalina Anzolin (IfM, University of Cambridge), Dr. Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete (IfM, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Dalila Ribaudo (Aston University). 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact N/A 
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/12/19/perceptions-of-manufacturing-how-to-make-manufacturing-charming-...
 
Description The original Manufacturing Made Smarter Network + Grant (MMSN+) led to the funding of the Made Smarter Network + (MSN+), externally branded as Interact. Interact has findings from over 30 activities. These are currently being synthesised into meta-insights that will be shared through a policy document.

Examples of specific outputs can be found at: https://interact-hub.org/resources/
Exploitation Route Increase the adoption of digital technologies to improve the productivity, sustainability and resilience of UK manufacturing.
Sectors Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

URL https://interact-hub.org/resources/
 
Description Each of the investments through Interact have their own impact map. The project still has one year to run and the combined impact of the projects is being assessed. The projects are designed to increase the adoption of industrial digital technologies by UK manufacturers to increase productivity, sustainability and resilience of UK manufacturing.
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
Impact Types Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Active labour market policies and deindustrialization 
Organisation University of Santiago de Compostela
Country Spain 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Contributed to an Horizon Research project.
Collaborator Contribution Led an Horizon funding application in 2023-2024
Impact Horizon funding application bid
Start Year 2023
 
Description Entrepreneurial persistence and ageing 
Organisation University of Toronto
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of a simulation framework to understand how entrepreneurial persistence is affected by ageing.
Collaborator Contribution Writing up a report summarising the main finding of the model.
Impact Preliminary report on ageing and how entrepreneurship can mitigate the impact of ageing and economic inactivity.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems - Established Partnership with MakeUK 
Organisation Make UK
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems - Established Partnerships with MakeUK, Feb 2022 - Regional Study - 'The Midlands as a Factory'.
Collaborator Contribution Supporting the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems Regional Study - 'The Midlands as a Factory'.
Impact A scenario booklet has been developed. This is currently awaiting authorship.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Innovation Zone in South Yorkshire 
Organisation South Yorkshire Police
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Developing a framework to evaluate the SY Innovation Zone
Collaborator Contribution We will develop a framework to evaluate the Innovation Zone in SY
Impact No outputs yet.
Start Year 2024
 
Description Mapping local entrepreneurial eco-systems 
Organisation University of Salerno
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collected data on entrepreneurial eco-systems
Collaborator Contribution Helped identify the local contacts
Impact Development of a data-set on local Start-ups in Italy
Start Year 2023
 
Description 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' Launch Webinar. Launch in collaboration with Make UK and Midlands Engine. 26th May 2022. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This webinar examined the results of a survey of manufacturing firms in the Midlands region and launching the 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' project. This is a joint programme between the InterAct Network led by Professor Jan Godsell (Dean of the School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University), Make UK (represented by Charlotte Horobin) and Midlands Engine (Delma Dwight).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description 'Informing empathy-led change management: Creating a measurable readiness health plan for the adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing' presentation at BIM in Leicester 2024 Conference - 8 February 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr. Mersha Aftab (Birmingham City University) and Dr. Iryna Yevseyeva (De Montfort University) presented their InterAct funded project.
The BIM in Leicester 2024 event sets out a series of themes for speakers to respond to that are both relevant and timely with the incoming discussions surrounding AI, ; the climate crisis and global BIM. These themes will permit for a series of important discussions surrounding Building Information Modelling in the built environment.
Impact - Potentially impacting significant architecture and construction firms trying to adopt BIM as a technology tool within their practice.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description 'InterAct: New Business Models for Competitive and Sustainable Technological Transformation in Manufacturing & Operations'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Conference Track - Natalie McDougall, University of Strathclyde - awarded an InterAct Early Career Researcher grant. Track was developed and proposed late 2022 and accepted early 2023. Natalie McDougall received over 20 submissions and worked with a team of 4 reviewers to accept 12. These presented across 3 sessions at R&D Management Conference, Seville in June 2023. The 3 sessions stimulated group discussion with academics and practitioners, sharing knowledge of and asking questions about resource-scarce innovation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description 'What a successful ecosystem requires'. Janet Godsell - Keynote at Make UK/Cityforum 2024 Defence Round Table 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Funding the UK Defence Ecosystem - Capital, Capabilities, Commitments - A Make UK/Cityforum 2024 Defence Round Table - 8 February 2024, London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description 2023 Webinar Behaviour change in manufacturing in pursuit of sustainability, Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). ~120 business attendees. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Webinar for KTN talking about behaviour change in manufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/behaviour-change-for-manufacturing-talent-and-business-sustainability/
 
Description 30th EurOMA Conference, Leuven - A Systems Lens on Operations. 3 - 5 July 2023. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Supply Chain Risk Management session chaired by Jan Godsell. Jan Godsell then presented 'Logistics service providers' foray into supply chain finance: Developing necessary capabilities' with Sumeer Chakuu and Steven James Day.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description A paradoxical approach to the coopetitive relationships in manufacturing ecosystems - a presentation at EurOMA Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Forum in Hamburg, March 2024. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Orsolya-Anna Mate from InterAct provided a presentation from InterAct's Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems research stream. The event provided two full days of discussing, networking and learning about sustainability.
Forum themed - Rethinking Shared Value Creation through Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains - 4-5 March 2024, Hamburg, Germany.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description AI and gender bias and a networking space for women in manufacturing - Discussion Panel - Manufacturing and Engineering Week - June 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 50 people attended a discussion panel and networking space to raise awareness about the gender gap in manufacturing and tech and how to address it - panel member Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete of IfM Engage, University of Cambridge - an InterAct funded researcher.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Adoption of Digital Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact An 'Adoption of Digital Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing, workshop held on 20 July 2022 at Cranfield University. A workshop to disseminate research findings on the topic as well as exploring the following two themes:
Theme 1: How to use digital technologies for sustainable manufacturing?
Theme 2: How can manufacturers adopt digital technologies successfully?

The workshop was supported by ESRC-InterAct, Royal Society and ESRC-IRC DEX network.

Jill MacBryde - Key note speaker - 'InterAct - the human side of Made Smarter'. Keynote speakers - Dr Ahmad Beltagui, Aston University, Dr Miying Yang, Cranfield University, and Dr Brian Sudlow, Aston University 'The adoption of disruptive digital technologies in UK manufacturing: learning from histories' - an InterAct Systematic Review project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Architecting New Design Rules for Global Supply Chains in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape - Industrial Cambridge International Manufacturing (CIM) Symposium 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Day 2 of the symposium featuring insightful keynote talks from senior business executives and academic thought leaders. Professor Jan Godsell gave a keynote on InterAct.
The keynotes were followed by workshops on the development of Digital-Twin Supply Chains and Control Towers, and leadership response mechanisms for managing disruptions. Parallel academic sessions completed the programme with over 60 international speakers, reflecting the global remit of the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Building supply chain resilience means going beyond reshoring - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Jan Godsell, InterAct Co-director and a specialist in supply chain management explains what's needed to build supply chain resilience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/11/22/building-supply-chain-resilience-means-going-beyond-reshoring/
 
Description Business Model Innovation and Digital Servitization in UK Manufacturing SMEs - A webinar. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The research was conducted by Dr. Dimitrios Dousios and Dr. Antonios Karatzas (University of East Anglia) and funded by InterAct. As a primary dissemination activity, the project's first webinar has been delivered in early August 2023 to raise awareness about the project, communicate the study's findings and promote the publication of the main report and its accompanying intellectual outputs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-1CB2f6JzQ
 
Description CarbonVue & InterAct Webinar - 22nd June 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This InterAct/Carbonvue event covered the thinking behind the development of CarbonVue, a supply chain digital twin - how productivity and sustainability are interlinked and should be considered going into the future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Chaired session 'Future of Global Manufacturing Ecosystems' at 2022 World P&OM online Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Wanrong Zhang of InterAct - chaired the session 'Future of Global Manufacturing Ecosystems' on behalf of Jan Godsell in the 2022 World P&OM online Conference. (25 August 2022).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Changing perceptions of manufacturing - A webinar. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This webinar discussed the findings from an InterAct funded project looking at international perceptions of manufacturing - including how perceptions of manufacturing have evolved in the UK in the last 20 years and how it compares with six other countries. This webinar was hosted by the UK Manufacturing Forum (UKMF). It was introduced and co-hosted by Chris Dungey, Chief Technology Officer, at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Tim Minshall, Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation & Head of the Institute for Manufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Charging ahead or falling behind? the UK's preparedness for EU battery regulations - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr. Melanie King of Loughborough University outlines the findings of her work examining the impact of EU battery regulation on UK exporters. This research was supported by an InterAct Open Funding Call grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/12/08/charging-ahead-or-falling-behind-the-uks-preparedness-for-eu-bat...
 
Description CoWorking Spaces - a new form of Marshallian Industrial Organisation? Bournemouth University Business School. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A faculty seminar outlining the concept of coworking spaces and their characteristics and in which 25 academics, PhD/MBA students attended which led to questions and discourse.
Dissemination of the academic work - an InterAct Open Funding Call project - The research was conducted by Dr. Felicia M Fai, Dr. Mariachiara Barzotto and Professor Phil Tomlinson (University of Bath).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Cranfield event on Digital and Sustainable Supply Chains "The adoption of digital technologies for sustainable manufacturing" 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact One day event discussing the impact of digital technologies on manufacturing sustainability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/events/the-adoption-of-digital-technologies-for-sustainable-manufact...
 
Description Creating Meaningful Impact - A webinar. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact A webinar by Professor Jan Godsell to inform and advise commissioned research funding recipients how to create better impact - 27 July 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Creating the Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem We Want 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jan Godsell - Speaker - 'Creating the Digital Manufacturing Ecosystem We Want'. Made Smarter Innovation Theatre, Exhibition Centre, Liverpool. (16 November 2022).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Delivering the Digital Future we Want, Together - a presentation at 4th MTA Technical Committee meeting 2023 at NMIS - 23rd November 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Jill MacBryde, InterAct Co-director, gave a presentation on behalf of Jan Godsell.
The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) Technical Committee offers members the opportunity to discuss, review and influence the latest research, development, standards, legislation, events, and any other relevant technical industry information in relation to manufacturing technology.
The committee meets quarterly in locations around the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Delivering the digital future we want, together. Presentation by Janet Godsell. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact InterAct Co-director, Professor Janet Godsell delivered a talk titled 'Delivering the digital future we want, together' to an audience at the Smart Factory Expo in the NEC, Birmingham, Thursday 8th June 2023. This addressed the need for self-sufficiency in critical production, lessons from the manufacturing past and the progress of the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems workstream. At the same event, Jillian MacBryde chaired a discussion on Women in Manufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/06/15/delivering-the-digital-future-we-want-together/
 
Description Digital Future of Manufacturing Ecosystems' Discovery Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The 'Digital Future of Manufacturing Ecosystems' Discovery Day was held at Siemens, Congleton on 7 July 2022, to coincide with National Manufacturing Day. Attendees were from across the academic, manufacturing and digital technology sectors. The purpose of the event was to present the innovative research work in regards to supply chains and digitalisation in the manufacturing environment.
Participants were then encouraged to discuss the importance of incorporating new research in industry, developing new ideas and building mutually beneficial relationships.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Discovery day 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The presentation focused on the new Innovation Zone for SY
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description EV Battery Supply Chains - Circular Economy and Resilience Challenges - Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct funded project led by Professor Jun Du Professor, Reader Luciano Battista and Dr. Oleksandr Shepotylo (Aston Business School). Held 27 April 2023, Aston Business School, Birmingham. The industry attendants manifested high interest in the topic. Potential collaborations were discussed in the networking sessions.
Workshop delivered to academics and industry professionals interested in better understanding the changing landscape of the automotive sector, as it moves towards the new era of electric vehicles. The participants discussed industrial trends and challenges concerning the electrification of the UK automotive sector, the potential of cutting-edge digital technologies to enable the visibility of EV battery supply chains, and the circular economy agenda for the implementation of regenerative EV battery supply chains.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description EV Battery Supply Chains - Trade, Technology and Policy Perspectives - A workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct funded project led by Professor Jun Du Professor, Reader Luciano Battista and Dr. Oleksandr Shepotylo (Aston Business School). Workshop delivered to academics and industry professionals. The participants discussed current trends and challenges concerning the electrification of the UK automotive sector and the circular economy agenda for the implementation of regenerative EV battery supply chains. The event will involve short talks from academic and industry experts, a panel debate and networking opportunities to facilitate research collaborations between industry and academia.
Date & Venue: 30/05/2023, KPMG Canary Wharf, Cabot Square, Canada Square, London.
Prof Jun Du, Project Co-I, was invited to be a keynote speaker at the Automotive Forum of the BPF (British Plastics Federation). This event took place on 6th December 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Electrifying the future - EV Global Value Chains and UK Critical Dependencies - A workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct funded project led by Professor Jun Du Professor, Reader Luciano Battista and Dr. Oleksandr Shepotylo (Aston Business School). Workshop delivered to academics and industry professionals. The participants discussed the global shift towards sustainable transportation and how it has driven the rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, which has become a critical component of the clean energy transition.
Date & Venue: 24/10/2023, Aston Business School, Birmingham.
Impact - One industry CEO joined Aston University as Visiting Fellow.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Empowering women in manufacturing: Unlocking the potential of gender-inclusive digitalisation - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete of IfM Engage, University of Cambridge, discusses the challenges faced by women in UK manufacturing, and explores the potential of gender inclusive digital transformation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/09/29/empowering-women-in-manufacturing-unlocking-the-potential-of-gen...
 
Description Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems - Vitsoe Discovery Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct - Vitsoe cobranded Discovery Day to explore insights from Vitsoe and the 'flexibilty' theme of InterAct's Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems research. Held on National Manufacturing Day, 28 September 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of Manufacturing Work - Digital Skills for Accelerated Adoption - Conference, MTC, Coventry 30 March 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation by InterAct Co-Director Jill MacBryde - Future of Manufacturing Work - at The National Manufacturing Summit. The two-day event brought together technology experts and manufacturing leaders across a wide range of sectors to learn, discuss, and debate the key talking points and pressing issues that are impacting the UK's future in digital manufacturing. Hosted by the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry. A hybrid event that was run simultaneously live at its leading training and conference centre in Coventry, and online across multiple platforms.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of Sustainable & Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems - Janet Godsell presentation at Program SCM Executive Sustainability Workshop on 10th May 2023, Holland. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A SCM Executive Workshop ahead of the inNOWvate Supply Chain Event, Netherlands on 10th & 11th May 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of Work - Consultation Webinar (10 October 2022). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact On-line session hosted by the InterAct Team at Strathclyde University Business School on the following:

The pace of technological change raises many interesting questions for academics, policy makers and employers:

How can the sector prepare people to work alongside new technologies, robots, and co-bots?
What are the essential skills for future manufacturing workplaces and how can we enable these through training and education?
How can advanced technologies help generate and embed new ways of working by opening up career opportunities for otherwise hard-to-reach groups such as women, minorities, older workers and disabled people?

An open discussion followed which provided some interesting points to support our understanding of perceptions of manufacturing work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Future of Work - Thought Leadership Dinner 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An industry - InterAct research event. Discuss and provoke thinking on the 'Perceptions of Manufacturing' Future of Work theme. Held on National Manufacturing Day, 28 September 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of Work: 'Being a better employer' - An in-person workshop. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Jill MacBryde (InterAct Co-director) in partnership with Flexibility Works and guest speakers to discuss how to better accommodate flexible working patterns in industry. Held 1 June 2023 at Strathclyde Business School.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of the Economy: Discovery Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct Core Research in-person event - To discuss the impact and benefits for advanced manufacturing investment zones. Held at AMRC, Factory 2050 Sheffield - 16 November 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future of the Economy: International Insights Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A webinar hosted by Professor Vania Sena on 9th June 2023. Guest speaker Sergio Destefanis discussed EU industrial economic strategy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future workforces: job quality & perceptions of UK manufacturing - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In this second article of the 'future workforces' series, Dr Robert Stewart examines recent survey findings on perceptions of manufacturing job appeal.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/05/23/future-workforces-job-quality-perceptions-of-uk-manufacturing/
 
Description How can we attract the next generation of young talent into UK digital manufacturing careers by 2040? - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Karl Warner (University of Glasgow), Nicola Bailey (Kings College London), Anna Chatzimichali (University of Bath), Malek El-Qallali (University of Bath), Imtiaz Khan (Cardiff Metropolitan University), and Anastasia Kulichyova (Queens University Belfast) describe how their new project (funded by InterAct Sandpit grant)aims to develop a strategy to inform the rebranding of UK digital manufacturing to attract the next generation of talent into UK digital manufacturing careers by 2040.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/10/02/how-can-we-attract-the-next-generation-of-young-talent-into-uk-d...
 
Description How co-working spaces can boost local economies - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Mariachiara Barzotto (University of Bath), Felicia Fai (University of Bath), and Phil Tomlinson (University of Bath) describe some findings from their research funded by the InterAct Open Call grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/08/01/how-co-working-spaces-can-boost-local-economies/
 
Description How coworking spaces can boost local economies, The Conversation. (10/7/23) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A 900 word article for The Conversation on the benefits of coworking spaces for local economies.
9077 readers (as at 7/2/24)
Global (57 % USA, 14% UK, 7% Ireland, 4% Ireland, Others 18%)
Impact - Wider interest in the research - an InterAct Open Funding Call project - The research was conducted by Dr. Felicia M Fai, Dr. Mariachiara Barzotto and Professor Phil Tomlinson (University of Bath).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://theconversation.com/how-co-working-spaces-can-boost-local-economies-208324
 
Description How do we create manufacturing ecosystems from supply chains? - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr. Nikolai Kazantsev of IfM offers an introduction to ideas explored in 'From supply chains towards manufacturing ecosystems: A system dynamics model'. This study is supported by an InterAct ECR grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/11/15/how-do-we-create-manufacturing-ecosystems-from-supply-chains/
 
Description Increasing Productivity through the Adoption of Digital Technology - Made Smarter East Midlands and InterAct Technology Transfer Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As part of Leicester's Innovation Festival, Made Smarter East Midlands partnered with the InterAct Network to host this Technology Transfer Workshop to bring together IDT's and manufacturers to share practical steps/interact expertise on digitalisation. Held 9 February 2024 at Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough.
A workshop specifically aimed at SME Manufacturers. There were presentations from Jan Godsell (InterAct), Chris Owen (MS East Midlands), Dr. Dimitrios Dousios and Dr. Antonios Karatzas (University of East Anglia) about their new, free to use 'digital servitization' toolkit (an InterAct funded project) and from four expert technology providers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Industrial metaverse for manufacturing systems: hype or future reality? - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact InterAct commissioned researchers from the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, examine the potential of metaverse technology in the manufacturing sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/09/04/industrial-metaverse-for-manufacturing-systems-a-hype-or-future-...
 
Description Informing empathy-led change management: Creating a measurable readiness health plan for adopting digital technologies in manufacturing - Presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Fourth International STEAM Conference (17 - 18 October 2023) - Interdisciplinary Workshop.
A workshop and conference showcasing an InterAct funded research project 'Informing empathy-led change management: Creating a measurable readiness health plan for adopting digital technologies in manufacturing' - led by Dr. Mersha Aftab (Birmingham City University), Dr. Mey Goh (Loughborough University), Dr. Iryna Yevseyeva (De Montfort University).
The International conference and the workshop was attended by research institutes from Europe i.e. Italy, Portugal. Within UK it was attended by research institute in Ireland, and globally the workshop was attended by Mexico City and Canada.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Innovating Profitable Manufacturing Supply Chains with Resilience - webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Webinar - 25 October 2022. InterAct Co-director Janet Godsell, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy at Loughborough University, and John Burdett, previously Supply Chain Director at Tata Global Beverages. About how:
Supply Chains can flex their supply without adding costs by increasing insight into supply capability.
Businesses can leverage flexibility through suppliers and partners.
Better use of data can create more adaptive Supply Chain Planning through more Intelligent Planning decisions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Innovating and Entrepreneuring - British Craft Based Manufacturing Ventures - A conference. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This event was organised by Dr Anup Karath Nair from the University of Liverpool Management School in partnership with the InterAct Network. Conference held on 21 April 2023 at University of Liverpool School of Law & Social Justice. The event introduced innovative 'next practices' by some of Britain's leading craft-based manufacturing businesses. Keynote speakers included Professor Jillian MacBryde from the University of Strathclyde (InterAct Co-director), Kristian Tapaninaho from Ooni Ltd, Sarah Reast from Timberkits Ltd, and Sarah Watson from The Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Company Ltd.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/management/conferences-and-events/innovating-and-entrepreneuring/
 
Description Insights From History On The New Industrial Revolution 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 'Insights From History On The New Industrial Revolution' Aston University, Birmingham and online (8 November 2022). The event is part of an interdisciplinary research project funded by ESRC under the Made Smarter InterAct Network.
This hybrid event presented perspectives from industry, policy and academia on the current industrial challenges. It was an opportunity to reflect and learn how historical cases can help achieve success with digital transformation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description InterAct Annual Conference 2022 'Creating the digital manufacturing future we want'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The conference was held on 3rd October 2022 at The IET, Savoy Place, London. The conference provided a roster of world-leading speakers, who shared unique insights and perspectives on their areas of expertise in relation to the theme of 'Creating the digital manufacturing future we want'.

Our speakers were drawn from a wide range of backgrounds across industry, policy, think-tanks, and academia. Together they represent a diverse collection of voices that we want to draw into the wider conversation about what it will take to build a future that delivers for everyone. The keynotes were followed by a Storytelling and critical question formulation workshop, a 'Critical questions' panel debate, closing comments and then a Storytelling Programme video screening.

All 12 conference speaker recordings and our afternoon workshop sessions have now been made available through the InterAct YouTube channel.

Feedback on the sessions was gathered on Vevox. All comments were positive and constructive, and any recommendations would be taken on board for the 2023 conference. As a result of the conference, the InterAct Network has grown considerably.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/01/04/interact-conference-2022/
 
Description InterAct Annual Conference 2023 'How do we create the digital manufacturing future we want?' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The conference was held on 3rd October 2023 at The IET, Savoy Place, London. The conference provided a roster of world-leading speakers, who shared unique insights and perspectives on their areas of expertise in relation to the theme of "How do we create the digital manufacturing future we want?"

Our speakers were drawn from a wide range of backgrounds across industry, policy, think-tanks, and academia. Together they represent a diverse collection of voices that we want to draw into the wider conversation about what it will take to build a future that delivers for everyone. In the interactive segment of the day, attendees had the opportunity to workshop questions amongst themselves to pose to a panel of experts. The panel, comprising thought leaders from diverse backgrounds, discussed critical themes and issues facing the manufacturing sector. This was followed by closing comments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2024/01/10/interact-hosts-second-annual-conference/
 
Description InterAct Sandpit Event to 'Develop solutions to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of Industrial Digital Technologies in UK manufacturing' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This sandpit event was held 15 - 17 May 2023 at Burleigh Court Hotel, Loughborough for the purpose of developing innovative research ideas and outline research proposals in collaboration. A diverse group of participants got together for the full three days. They focused on collaborative thinking and discussion in order to develop innovative research ideas and outline research proposals designed to help solve the unmet needs from industry around the creation, diffusion, and adoption of industrial digital technologies in manufacturing, which were presented to a panel at the end of the Sandpit.
Following the Sandpit, the outline research projects were assessed by a selection panel and successful groups then invited to submit a full proposal covering their intended activities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description InterAct Summer School 2023 'Supporting the innovation and diffusion of Industrial Digital Technologies in UK manufacturing'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This Summer School was co-hosted by InterAct and Atlantic Technological University, at the ATU Letterkenny, Donegal Campus, Ireland 16-21 July 2023. This residential Summer School aimed to provide the opportunity for up to 30 UK-based early career researchers and doctoral students from the economic and social sciences to come together for five days to connect with peers and develop their academic networks. They would gain insights from leading academics within the InterAct Network, sharing the aims, objectives, and ongoing research projects from within the core workstreams of the 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems', 'Future of Work' and 'Future of the Economy'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description InterAct co-hosted international webinar - Navigating uncertainty: How HRM dynamic capabilities contribute to organisational well-being and performance 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An InterAct co-hosted international webinar with colleagues at the ESRC PrOPEL Hub with keynote speakers Dr Paula Apascaritei and Professor Marta Elvira of IESE Business School, Madrid. (5 May 2022). Dr Apascaritei and Professor Elvira shared their research on what 'HRM dynamic capabilities' might look like in innovative businesses. First, their research points to the need for an HR function that supports 'knowledge-building' within and across teams, for example though the creation of real and virtual spaces for employees and managers to collaborate and learn together. Second, they pointed to value of 'socially integrative' HR practices, noting the importance of supporting people in different roles to build relationships with colleagues, customers and partners. Lastly, Dr Apascaritei and Professor Elvira pointed to the value of HRM that supports 'reconfiguring' capabilities, with an emphasis on cross-skilling and flexible working practices that fit with the innovation priorities of businesses, including in digital manufacturing.

Much of this discussion chimed with ongoing research being conducted by the 'Future of Work' team at InterAct.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description InterAct webinar - 'How to write better grant applications' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This session, led by InterAct Co-director Professor Jan Godsell and featuring successful InterAct grant applicant Dr. Andreas Schroeder examines examples of successful applications, developing opportunities for networking/feedback, and through sharing our knowledge of navigating the administrative processes associated with funding calls. Following this event, InterAct has received applications for the Commissioned Research funding calls from a broader range of research organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description InterAct with AI: Effective AI use in Industry - webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 'InterAct with AI: Effective AI use in Industry (23rd November 2022). Presented by InterAct.
A webinar to hear from four speakers addressing the following topics surrounding AI:

Developing human efficiency through better collaboration with AI - Dr Viktor Dörfler, University of Strathclyde.
The use of AI in product design: an automotive perspective - Professor Gary Page, Loughborough University.
AI and procurement - Joel Walker, COO of The Knowledge Group.
Responsible AI considerations in manufacturing, operations and supply chains - Sue Williams, Managing Director of Hexagon.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description International Perceptions of Manufacturing Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A workshop at Aston Business School - 30 November 2023.
To disseminate the research from an InterAct funded project about international perceptions in manufacturing led by Dalila Ribaudo, Guendalina Anzolin, and Jennifer Castañeda Navarrete. Dr Robert Stewart from University of Strathclyde presented his InterAct research about "perceptions of manufacturing in the UK".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description International webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The webinar focus on international industrial policies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Jill MacBryde - Keynote presentation at CADE 2022 : Competitive Advantage in the Digital Economy Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A keynote presentation online by Professor Jill MacBryde at CADE 2022 : Competitive Advantage in the Digital Economy Conference on the InterAct 'Future of Manufacturing Work' core research programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description KTN Webinar Series: Introducing the Research Centres & Innovation Hubs: InterAct. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact As part of the 'Making Manufacturing Smarter Webinar Series', this webinar presented the findings of the research and outlined how future research could support UK manufacturers with their digital investment challenges, as well as showcase the work being undertaken to bring historical technology adoption stories to life, to help address the human side of digitalisation. Webinar - 25 October 2022.

As part of the InterAct network, an interdisciplinary team from Aston and Cranfield Universities had reviewed historical cases of industrial transitions. By identifying cases related to mechanisation, electrification and computerisation, the aim is to support the successful adoption of industrial digital technology for the digitalisation of manufacturing.

Simultaneously, another team from Aston University used a systematic literature review method to identify the range of technological, organisational, and social barriers that inhibit effective digital investments and how manufacturers should overcome these. The webinar presented the findings of the research and outline how future research could support UK manufacturers with their digital investment challenges, as well as showcase the work undertaken to bring historical technology adoption stories to life, to help address the human side of digitalisation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/introducing-the-research-centres-innovation-hubs-interact
 
Description Mach 2023 MTC conference invited speaker and panelist 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This event at MTC had 100+ people in person and 400 people online.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://nmsummit.co.uk/sessions-2023/
 
Description Manufacturing & Engineering Week - invited speaker and panel chair, Birmingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Chaired a panel discussion on women in manufacturing. This received a good bit of media attention and follow up events.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/ifm-at-digital-manufacturing-week-2022/
 
Description Manufacturing a better future - exploring disability inclusive digital manufacturing - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr. Marisa Smith of Strathclyde Business School outlines the reasoning behind, and aims of, this InterAct funded research into disability inclusion in the manufacturing sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/12/07/manufacturing-a-better-future-exploring-disability-inclusive-dig...
 
Description Manufacturing in the Metaverse - a presentation at Industrial Cambridge International Manufacturing (CIM) Symposium Sept 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Nikolai Kazantsev presented the results of his InterAct funded systematic literature review.
The feedback from industrial participants was very useful for developing academic papers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Manufacturing@MIT Annual Symposium: Charting the Future of Production in a Time of Shifting Globalization, Boston, USA (23 May 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Keynote at MIT Symposium - Professor Jan Godsell discussed shifting supply chains and the importance of moving to a circular economy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Moving Towards the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 'Moving Towards the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' Multi-Stakeholder Co-Design Workshops - Liverpool (pilot) (17 November 2022). Led by Dr Wanrong Zhang. A pilot co-design workshop to support InterAct - Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems - Scenario Development.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Overcoming barriers to digitalisation: adding value in the agri-food sector - A webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An InterAct and Foods Connected webinar - To learn more about digitalisation in the agri-food industry. Held 8 November 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l69jv7lFDKk
 
Description People as route to competitive advantage in a digital manufacturing future - webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Jill MacBryde - 'People as route to competitive advantage in a digital manufacturing future' webinar. 25 January 2023. Digit Lab Seminar.

To outline opportunities to engage with InterAct - whether you are an academic, policy maker, or a practitioner from manufacturing or a developer of digital technologies. The talk focused on how we can ensure that we are thinking abut people as we build a strong manufacturing future in a digital environment. The webinar touched on important questions such as:

What will a digital manufacturing workplace look like?
How can the manufacturing sector prepare people to work alongside new technologies, robots, and co-bots?
What are the essential skills for future manufacturing workplaces and how can we enable these through training and education?
How can advanced technologies help generate and embed new ways of working by opening up career opportunities for otherwise hard-to-reach groups such as women, minorities, older workers and disabled people?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Perceptions of manufacturing and the industrial metaverse - A workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact A workshop at IfM, Cambridge and online - 1 December 2023.
An event to share the outputs from two InterAct funded systematic reviews - Perceptions of manufacturing (Dr. Guendalina Anzolin, Dr. Jennifer Castañeda Navarrete and Dr. Dalila Ribaudo) and Manufacturing and the Metaverse (Dr. Nikolai Kazantsev, Professor Chander Velu, Bethan Moncur, Dr. Bang Ming Yong).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' at 'Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Wanrong Zhang from InterAct gave a presentation on her Core Research theme 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' at 'Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium', Cambridge UK (23 September 2022). This annual symposium provides an opportunity to hear from world-leading business figures and thinkers on the challenges facing modern manufacturing. The event brings together senior industrialists and leading academics to share approaches and experiences in this strategic domain. The activity informed the audience of future research activities and support required from industrialists, IDT providers etc for co-design workshops.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation at Global Energy Meet, Boston 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We presented the work on emissions tracking and different methodologies to track emissions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at Marketing and Strategy Practice Conference, Newcastle, 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact A paper on analytics and its role in advanced manufacturing has been presented.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at SDM 2022 9th International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact SDM-22, the ninth International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing took place in Split, Croatia as a hybrid conference.

The event attracted over 100 participants in person from around 20 countries. The conference included three days of scientific sessions with 8 expertly curated invited sessions. The conference consisted of keynote talks, oral presentations, invited sessions and workshops. It covered the theory and applications of sustainable design and manufacturing, and related areas, whilst providing an excellent platform for the presentation and discussion of new data and concepts, leading to knowledge exchange and the generation of new ideas.

Professor Jill MacBryde was invited chair of the session titled 'Manufacturing sustainability through digital technology, people and policy'. The session focus - In a world faced with the looming threat of climate change, the InterAct Network will also support UK manufacturing's efforts to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Whilst technology is important, there are many social and economic factors that will be hugely influential in achieving these aims.
This session focused on how we can improve manufacturing sustainability using digital technology and in particular the role of people and policy. We will also discussed the impact on people and communities.

In the session titled 'Lean Practices for Sustainable Process-product Design and Management in the Industry 4.0 era' Dr Ahmad Beltagui, Dr Brian Sudlow, Dr Miying Yang, Ms Qinglan Liu, Mr Glen Jonata presented their paper 'Learning from histories: a systematic review of historical industrial transitions' - a project funded by the InterAct Commissioned Research programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation at Society of Economic Measurement, Milan 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is an academic conference with a mixed audience of academics and practitioners. It led to a discussion on advanced manufacturing and measurement of productivity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Professor Jan Godsell presented at Engineering SC Show - Mach 2022. NEC, Birmingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Keynote titled 'Breaking the Chain: The Future Manufacturing Ecosystem'. Professor Jan Godsell, shared her thoughts on how supply chain innovation could help businesses to 'build back better' in the wake of COVID.
This talk encompassed the creation of new business models, that decouple consumption from production, the need to break the traditional linear view of supply chains, keeping products in their highest value state, and reuse, repair, and remanufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Putting the East Midlands at the heart of the future UK manufacturing ecosystem - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Professor Jan Godsell examines the role of previous industrial evolution and the role of Industry 4.0 in shaping the manufacturing sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/04/24/putting-the-east-midlands-at-the-heart-of-the-future-uk-manufact...
 
Description RESTRAIN: Socio-cultuRal bEhaviour of end-uSers To specific cybeR-threAts In maNufacturing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct funded project led by Veniamin Boiarkin, Professor Muttukrishnan Rajarajan, Professor Rajkumar Roy and Professor Katy Tapper (City, University of London).
A series of project dissemination events at:
13th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems - 15 September 2023, London.
AMDEA 2050: Appliances of the Future Conference - 21 September 2023.
Australia-UK Cyber Security Roundtable and Networking - September 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Rethinking manufacturing: It is everything, everywhere, all at once - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact InterAct funded researchers Dr. Guendalina Anzolin (IfM, University of Cambridge), Dr. Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete (IfM, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Dalila Ribaudo (Aston University) outline the need and key reasoning behind their recent report on comparative international perceptions of manufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2024/01/02/rethinking-manufacturing-it-is-everything-everywhere-all-at-once...
 
Description Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Industrial Digital Technologies for Net Zero Transitioning in the Steel Sector - Online 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact An InterAct Open Funding Call project led by the University of Warwick in collaboration with Niesslein Sustainability - A stakeholder consultation workshop to collect desired data for modelling and industry stakeholders volunteers to further complete the data collection template for verification and validation. Held 15 November 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Supply Chain Superwomen - International Women's Day 2024 - Amsterdam - A workshop. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Program of the 3rd session of the Supply Chain Superwomen on March 8th, 2024 - Schiphol Airport.
A workshop for female supply chain executives from international companies, focused on innovation, scenario planning and backcasting. (Sharing the insights of InterAct 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' research.) In addition, the event showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of startups Winddle, RTI Blockchain, THE CLIMATE CHOICE and Lox Solution who pitch their solution in a Dragon's Den.
This event in collaboration with Professor Janet Godsell , Blue Yonder and Henkel Consumer Products promises to be a unique opportunity for learning, collaboration, and networking.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Talk at International Conference of Industrial Ecology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This is a talk on different methodologies to track progress against net zero targets. The talk presented a potential tool to support decision-makers in industry and government.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Talk at the Global Energy Meet, LA, 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This talk focused on the models to forecast emissions and their quality.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description The Future of Manufacturing Work - a presentation at Foundation Future Leaders Conference, 20 November 2023, London. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jill MacBryde, InterAct Co-director, gave a presentation at the Risk and Resilience - Foundation Future Leaders Conference 2023.This conference examined three key issues - AI, the future of work, and energy security.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.foundation.org.uk/Events/2023/Risk-and-Resilience-Foundation-Future-Leaders-Conf
 
Description Towards the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Towards the Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems: Co-design Workshop. Multi-Stakeholder Co-Design Workshops - Burleigh Court Hotel, Loughborough University, Loughborough (14 February 2023).

The purpose of this workshop is to bring manufacturing firms, policymakers, digital technology providers together with the InterAct 'Future of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems' team to co-design the digital roadmaps that enable the UK manufacturing industry to achieve improved productivity, sustainability, resilience, and wellbeing by 2040.

Outcome:
Gained a much better understanding of how the digital technologies could support UK manufacturing moving towards the following scenarios:
Scenario 1 - Productivity Powerhouse
Scenario 2 - Flexibility as the Standard
Scenario 3 - Sustainability Champion
Scenario 4 - Happy and Sustainable Workforce
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Toyota, you and a "human centric" digital manufacturing future - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Russell Watkins, Lean Transformation Expert & Co-founder at Sempai and InterAct Strategic Advisory Board member, discusses the importance of putting people at the heart of digital manufacturing strategy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/07/31/toyota-you-and-a-human-centric-digital-manufacturing-future/
 
Description Unlocking human insight: a summer school journey - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Stephanie Yao Gou, PhD researcher at Loughborough University attended the InterAct Summer School, co-hosted by InterAct and Atlantic Technological University, at the ATU Letterkenny, Donegal Campus, Ireland in July 2023. This blog describes the enriching experience, exploring human insights surrounding digital technology diffusion and how the program was incredibly valuable in expanding knowledge and identifying potential collaborative opportunities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://interact-hub.org/2023/07/31/unlocking-human-insight-a-summer-school-journey/
 
Description Webinar for Digit Lab - Change through People 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Introducing InterAct and its work to the Digit Lab community
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://digit.ac.uk/seminar/people-as-a-route-to-competitive-advantage-in-a-digital-manufacturing-fu...
 
Description Women in Manufacturing: 'Changing perceptions' conference - 31st October 2023. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Keynote lectures on research findings - on the participation of women in UK manufacturing.
More than 160 delegates from diverse manufacturing backgrounds attended the Women in Manufacturing Conference: Changing perceptions. The conference agenda drew on the IfM's Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete's InterAct-funded work, which raises awareness of challenges faced by women in manufacturing.
Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete (IfM) and Dr Dalila Ribaudo from Aston University gave the keynote talk on gender representation in UK manufacturing and international viewpoints on the sector's challenges. InterAct Co-director Jill MacBryde, University of Strathclyde discussed how digital technologies can make jobs more attractive to women.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Women in digital manufacturing: discussion panel and networking 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jill MacBryde - Speaker - Women in digital manufacturing: discussion panel. (16 November 2022). Made Smarter Theatre, Digital Manufacturing Week, Liverpool. An activity to support the InterAct Future of Manufacturing Work core research theme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Workshop insights: International Perceptions and Megatrends of Manufacturing - A blog. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr. Chloe Billing of the University of Birmingham reflects on a recent InterAct funded workshop she attended on International perceptions and megatrends of manufacturing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://interact-hub.org/2024/01/25/workshop-insights-international-perceptions-and-megatrends-of-ma...
 
Description Workshop on Circular Economy - Opportunities and Challenges for the Sri Lanka's Apparel Industry. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A workshop by Prof. Amrik Sohal from Monash Business School, Australia & Janet Godsell from InterAct, Loughborough University UK held 16 November 2023 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo - supported by JAAF an University of Moratuwa - Supply Chain & Operations Department. InventiX, a provider of Advanced Production Planning & Scheduling Software, participated in the workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023