One week to go until our inaugural Innovation Festival
28 Sep 2026
There’s still time to register for our first Innovation Festival, taking place from Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 October 2026.
The Festival is a chance to discover the breadth of innovation happening across our university, meet people turning ideas into impact and explore new opportunities to collaborate. Whether you are developing an idea, looking for potential partners or simply curious about how innovation could support your work, there is something in the programme for you.
There is still time to register. With talks, showcases, live pitches and informal drop-ins across campus, colleagues can choose the events that interest them and build their own Festival programme.
Event highlights
Launch event: Building impact through innovation, from Manchester for the world | Monday, 5 October, 11am–1.30pm
Explore Manchester’s renewed role in UK innovation and politics, as well as the challenges and priorities involved in making the University the most innovative in Europe by 2035.
Powerhouse of Innovation Showcase | Wednesday, 7 October, 11am–4pm
Register or simply drop in to Whitworth Hall for networking, discovery and collaboration, bringing together innovation-focused activities from across the University.
Manchester to Market | Wednesday, 7 October, 9.30am–1pm
Register or simply drop in to the ground floor of University Place for a showcase of Manchester Innovation Factory’s most exciting intellectual property commercialisation opportunities.
Coller AI Competition | Friday, 9 October, 11am–3pm
Watch University of Manchester AI start-ups pitch live to secure a £100,000 equity investment from The Jeremy Coller Foundation, with a focus on responsible AI solutions to real-world challenges.
Explore the fringe programme
A host of fringe events will showcase the breadth of innovation at Manchester and beyond. Highlights include:
- Building companies that are rooted in the North but global in mindset | A Northern Gritstone event on Tuesday, 6 October
- Partner-Enabled Learning: Embedding Industry Partnerships into Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Education | Wednesday, 7 October
- Beyond the Hearing Loop: How Auracast is Transforming Accessibility at Manchester | Thursday, 8 October
These are just a few of the sessions taking place throughout the week, with many more opportunities to learn, share ideas and make new connections.