Creating sustainable communities: Innovative approaches to urban spaces, place making and delivery

Making Funding Models Work: Seizing Hydrogen Investment Opportunities

With the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) Seed project concluding in March 2025, what are the current and upcoming investment opportunities to capitalise on? Meet some of the investors leading the way.

Emerging Excellence: Low Carbon Technology Accelerators and Forwarding the Circular Economy

Following the exploration of challenges facing innovation in the infrastructure industry and how it can overcome them, we delve into two case studies of projects that are embedding the mindset of innovation into their workstreams. Each case study will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Towards a multimodal vision for innovation in transport

Great innovation is happening in transport, but are we really working towards a multi-modal vision of better integrated transport systems that enable more efficient, sustainable and accessible journeys? 

The business case for transport investment

How is the investment landscape evolving and what are its implications to the transport investment lifecycle? What are some of the emerging opportunities to improve coordination? Hear from angel investors, venture capitalists, family offices, pension funds, insurers and large institutional investors, SME’s and academics.

Lunch

Ministerial Address: Accelerating decarbonisation, autonomy, and accessibility in aviation and maritime

Building the Future: Aligning Procurement with Innovation Goals

Public authorities and Tier 1 suppliers come together in an interactive workshop to tackle pressing challenges in aligning procurement with innovation missions. Using insights from The Procuring Innovation Playbook and Practical Guide to Pre-Market Engagement, this session offers actionable guidance on embedding innovation within procurement processes and enabling pre-market engagement that drives new solutions.

Registration and Exhibition

Private investors and the public sector Net Zero opportunity

Domestic retrofitting, electric vehicle networks and district heating networks all present sizeable and strategic investment opportunities to private investors. But how can we innovate our traditional funding models to incorporate private finance for public sector Net Zero initiatives?  This session explores how cities can craft an appealing case for private climate finance, as well as what needs to be done next to achieve progress.

Beyond Contracts: Unlocking Innovation Through Your Supply Chain

Day 2 Learnings & Summit Closing Remarks

Innovating for rural mobility: SME case studies from the Rural Transportation Accelerator

Discover ground breaking solutions trialed in the DfT Rural Transportation Accelerator to bridge rural connectivity gaps and enhance sustainable access to NHS essential services.

Mission-Driven Procurement: Aligning Government Spending with Purpose and Impact

Connect & Spark Break

The Net Zero Neighbourhood model: the next innovation for UK public-private climate finance?

3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment) designed and developed the concept of Net Zero Neighbourhoods: the integration of local Net Zero projects into attractive investment propositions that create scalability and long-term certainty for investors.   In this session, we sit down with representatives from the London Borough of Hounslow and Glasgow City Council who are beginning the process of building the investment case for their Net Zero Neighbourhoods by creating a comprehensive outline of all the necessary interventions – from retrofitting to heat networks – to learn about the challenges and opportunities they are discovering.

Connect & Spark Break

Closing Address

Accelerating progress through UK National Data Sharing Infrastructure

The Transformation of Place through Digital Infrastructure and Planning

What are the new opportunities stemming from planning reform? How can the built environment sector leverage standardised digital infrastructure and data-driven decision making to optimise planning? How will increased cross-government collaboration and the devolution of funding impact the future of place shaping?

Connect & Spark Break

Innovation Pitch Session

Technology Keynote Address

What do we want future generations to experience and how do we create this future by leveraging the power of tech?

Showcase Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure (ZEHID) final deliverables

Emerging Excellence: Strategic Analysis of the Challenges facing Innovating in Infrastructure

Innovating a long-standing industry like infrastructure is not an easy feat. Join this session to explore the threats that fundamental industry problems like market disfunction pose and what is required to overcome them.The theories presented will then be tested in a case study and Q&A around a current project on the digital monitoring of fresh concrete to explore how we can embed a mindset for innovation into live and upcoming infrastructure projects.

Progress to be proud of: Collaborative Innovation driving change in the Infrastructure Industry

Join i3P to reflect on the UK infrastructure industry’s history of innovation and how it has responded to a rapidly changing environment. This session will be directly followed by two case studies to illustrate how i3P has supported innovation in infrastructure to date.

Innovation pitch session

AI and digital twins: In conversation with The Lord Clement-Jones CBE

Given the UK Governments recent announcement on the role of AI in our society, how can this technology be used to overcome technical and socio-technical challenges to connecting digital twins, and what value could this bring to managing systems or critical Infrastructure to benefit people and places.

Welcome Remarks

Digital twins for the climate emergency

In the context of extreme weather events, what role do technology and connected data play in improving climate adaptation? What are some of the key efforts in decarbonising existing properties, and how can existing assets be re-purposed into homes? Join this session to discover CReDo, a pioneering climate change adaptation digital twin project which places collaboration front and centre. 

Dismantling the Barriers to Widespread Adoption of New Infrastructure Approaches

In this high-energy, rapid fire session, our audience will hear two snappy presentations that demonstrate new techniques for innovation that can be readily adopted into mainstream infrastructure practices. We will then invite panellists to the stage to explore how we can practically convert ideas into collaborative action and the benefits this will present to the wider infrastructure industry. 

Towards a federated network of transport systems

With the Transport Research and Innovation Board (TRIB) Roadmap becoming a reality, what is the transport sector doing to become better connected? What are some of the benefits to business and to society derived from connecting digital twins in transport systems of the future?

Registration and Exhibition

HS2 Accelerator Session

Seeing is believing – In Conversation with Firebox Asset Owners

Join this showcase session to hear from infrastructure owners and discover the different Firebox challenges, including the greatest challenges they faced, the impact of digital transformation and how they are developing business cases for digital twins across their respective organisations.

Design to Deliver Panel session

Department for Transport session 2

Innovation plays a key role in delivering the missions of improving rail performance, transforming Britain’s transport infrastructure, and delivering greener transport. How are the sector’s innovation leaders shaping the new strategy and how is this new approach different? What can we learn from the history of innovation to ensure we stay on track and deliver real change? Explore the key themes and get involved in this thought-provoking co-designing session.

Lunch

Innovation Pitch Session

Transforming lives by transforming our homes

Closing Address: Paving the Path for Future Innovation in Infrastructure

Following a jam-packed day with i3P (the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership) exploring what has been done to foster collaboration in the construction sector and the exciting projects that are embedding innovation into their workstreams, join us for some final insights into the next steps for the infrastructure industry – and how you can become involved.

Spotlight on West Midlands

Department of Transport session 4

Innovation Pitch Session: FYLD AI: Paving the Way for Smarter Highway Maintenance

Lets explore how AI-driven technology is revolutionising highway maintenance by enhancing operational efficiency, improving safety, and enabling smarter, data-driven decision-making for sustainable infrastructure management.

Discover the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator

This session celebrates the achievements of 10 innovative SMEs who have worked on cutting-edge solutions to drive sustainability and efficiency in the freight sector. Discover the outcomes of their real-world trials conducted with industry leaders such as DHL, Wincanton and Maritime Transport, and hear what’s next for their companies as they continue to innovate and grow. This is a moment to reflect on their journey and the programme’s transformative impact on the sector

What is the future of place-making and the built environment?

The future success of place-making lies in collaborative partnerships that reimagine our built environment as interconnected ecosystems. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from the public and private sector, including urban planners, developers, land owners, and community leaders, we can create spaces that are not only sustainable and resilient but also adaptive to evolving social needs. 

Tech for transport

A Cross-sectoral View to Accelerating Progress: UK National Data Sharing Infrastructure

In Conversation with Andy Lord

Grand Challenge Spotlight: The future of mobility to connect places, increase social mobility and deliver economic renewal

Join the conversation to find out how the Department for Transport works collaboratively and cross-sector to break down silos and empower transport sectors to achieve their missions. What are the key cross-sector programmes to transform infrastructure and create greener, fully integrated transport networks? 

Freight Innovation Fund Cluster: Catalysing the development of freight and logistics in the UK

The Freight Innovation Cluster is a key programme within the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund Programme. This session is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the catalysing role played by the freight innovation cluster. From innovation support and stakeholder engagement, to technology stacking, investment readiness and innovation procurement training, the cluster has helped 350+) SMEs within freight and logistics advance across TRLs, reaching excellent results. You’ll hear success stories and pose questions on how best the cluster supports the development of the freight and logistics industry in the UK, leveraging collaborative innovation and research. 

Spotlight on Liverpool City Region

Fireside chat: How is the Government investing in Net Zero?

Funding the net zero transition comes with significant challenges. In this fireside chat, our speakers will explore the Government’s plans and programmes for decarbonisation, as well as the challenges and opportunities with delivering them.

Digital Innovation Futures

How can the UK’s regions help kickstart the economy?

How are regional economies shaping connected places and using innovation to boost economic growth and create new opportunities for communities? How will transport networks evolve with greater local decision-making authority?

Panel: insights and ambitions of key government departments for integrated rural transportation

Join government leaders as they share insights and strategies shaping the future of seamless, integrated transportation for rural communities.

Social impact in transportation: the case study of Rural Transportation Accelerator

Explore how how to measure and magnify the social impact of your project through the lens of the DfT Rural Transportation Accelerator’s work.

Accelerating Decarbonisation across Transport sectors

How are improvements in maritime, and the introduction of electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft improving regional connectivity and stimulating new jobs and economic growth?

Unlocking the opportunities of devolution

With increased local decision-making powers and stronger, mission-driven partnerships with national government, what are the new innovation opportunities for city leaders? How are devolved regions contributing to the Industrial Strategy and Local Growth Plans? Join this session to explore how leaders are using innovation to tackle challenges including productivity, migration, and the imperative to grow local economies. With increased local decision-making powers and stronger, mission-driven partnerships with national government, what are the new innovation opportunities for city Leaders? How are devolved regions contributing to (take out UK plc from session description) the Industrial Strategy and Local Growth Plans? Join this session to explore how leaders are using innovation to tackle challenges including productivity, migration, and the imperative to grow local economies.

Innovation pitch: Innovation in Transit: Cybersecurity Strategies for Sustainable Savings

Explore how innovation, cybersecurity, and cost-saving strategies can reshape the transportation sector for long-term success. We will also highlight how leveraging SMEs and cutting-edge solutions can safeguard the industry against future threats whilst driving sustainable savings.

Procurement Meets Disruption: What Public Sector Leaders Can Learn from Startups

Innovation in Action: Increasing Productivity in Earthworks

Connect & Spark Break

Visit the Exhibition and Meet the Partners

Spotlight on Glasgow

Networking Drinks Reception

How is energy becoming greener and more affordable?

How are energy optimization and usage being understood, and is this helping energy affordability?

Day One Learnings & Closing Remarks

Building the towns of tomorrow

What will the towns of tomorrow look like given the New Towns Code, what have we learnt from the past and where do we even start? How do we ensure the towns of the future are technologically enabled? What are the UK’s new growth corridors and how can they support new cities and towns to better scale and accommodate more population? 

Networking Drinks Reception

National Highways Innovation Day Hazards Protection on Road

Spotlights Wrap up Address

CReDo Session

Energy Decarbonisation Transition Challenges and Solutions

Where now for transport-oriented development?

What role do transport-oriented development and transport interchanges play in addressing the pressing needs posed by increasing urban density? Join this session to hear from leaders using transport to shape the development of urban places.

Opening remarks: an innovation strategy to tackle the next decade’s pressing place-based challenges

Fireside chat: How do we boost investment in net zero and green growth?

The National Wealth Fund is designed to derisk investments in innovative assets to achieve net zero and generate international competitive advantage. What are the key investment priorities to deliver this ambitious investment agenda? What public-private sector investment models are taking shape?

Innovation in Action: Creating a Zero Carbon World

Putting passengers at the heart of transport: Improving accessibility in rail and aviation

With the Government’s focus on improving services for passengers, what are some of the latest solutions to upgrade accessibility and deliver enhanced passenger experiences? Join this session to hear from those leading the transformation of rail and aviation.

In Conversation with Andrew Barr

Spotlight on South East Wales

Introduction to Regional Innovation Economies

Harnessing disruptive cross-sector tech for maritime operational efficiency

This session will explore the different innovative cross-sector technologies being applied across maritime and ports operations to decarbonise and improve safety and security. 

Opening Address: Fostering Innovation in the Infrastructure Industry

The UK’s infrastructure industry is forward-thinking and ambitious. But how can we ensure new technologies, approaches and innovations are being shared to maximise innovation? Join the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership (i3P) to explore how the UK can create an open innovation environment based on collaborative innovation followed by widespread adoption.

Procuring Innovation: Leveraging Public Spend to Shape Tomorrow’s Markets

 With over £300bn in annual public procurement spend, the UK public sector wields significant influence to foster innovation and create market opportunities This session explores how aligning strategic public procurement with innovation missions can accelerate societal impact and economic growth and drawing on learnings from the UK and wider. Based on findings from the IPEC First Annual Sentiment Analysis, discover how we are demystifying the barriers in procurement and leveraging innovation as a catalyst for transformative change.