Join a dynamic group of policymakers, innovators, industry leaders, and investors for an afternoon of discussion, debate, and knowledge-sharing around how innovation can source local solutions to national challenges - with a special spotlight on the Future Industries Demonstrator (FID).

23 April 2025 
Plexal, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

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How can local
innovation unlock
sustainable growth?

Speakers

Shazia HussainChief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation
Alex ConwayAssistant Director of Economic Development & Programmes, Greater London Authority
Sandy TungInnovation & Technology Lead, Greater London Authority
Lauren PilgreenHead of Startup Innovation, Sustainable Ventures
Samantha KidjoInnovation Lead, Startup Discovery School
Alex RussellExecutive Director, Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust
Morgan LewisDirector, Material Index
Russell GundrySenior Director, Plexal
Francesca CollocaHead of Innovation, SHIFT

What to expect?

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host this in-person forum to discuss the role of place-based innovation programmes in tackling local challenges. We’ll be convening a diverse group of stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem to stimulate dialogue around challenges and strategies for using innovation clustering and testbed trialling as a tool for growth in the innovation economy. Featuring an expert panel discussion on innovation policy and practical case studies from the Future Industries Demonstrator (FID) and other programmes driving impact across London.

What will be discussed?

Innovation as a
Policy Lever

Exploring the practical ways place-based innovation can help tackle local challenges and drive sustainable growth.

London’s Innovation
Ecosystem

Spotlighting the London innovation ecosystem, discussing what ‘place-based innovation’ can actually look like in practice.

FID as a
Case Study

Sharing insights and case studies of success from the Future Industries Demonstrator (FID) to inform similar programmes.

Who should attend?

Policymakers & Public Sector

Spotlighting the London innovation ecosystem, discussing what ‘place-based innovation’ can actually look like in practice.

SMEs &
Entrepreneurs

Sharing insights and case studies of success from the Future Industries Demonstrator (FID) to inform similar programmes.

Corporate & Industry Experts

Exploring the practical ways place-based innovation can help tackle local challenges and drive sustainable growth.

Investors &
Funders

Sharing insights and case studies of success from the Future Industries Demonstrator (FID) to inform similar programmes.

Join us at Plexal!

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) is East London’s premier hub for sustainable innovation, where SHIFT and its partners are helping to empower a diverse ecosystem of schools, start-ups, corporates, and policymakers developing the solutions to unlock London’s Green Future.

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Agenda

Arrival & Check-in
14:00 - 14:30
Welcome from SHIFT
14:30 - 14:35

The team from SHIFT will welcome attendees and set the context for the afternoon, before introducing the plan for the following sessions.

OPENING KEYNOTE: Pushing the boundaries of what a local innovation ecosystem can achieve
14:35 - 14:45

In this opening keynote, Shazia Hussain, CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation, will explore the unique opportunities and challenges facing London’s innovation ecosystem, emphasising the need for systemic change and tangible, inclusive impact.

Shazia Hussain
Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation
PANEL: How can local innovation tackle national challenges across the UK?
14:50 - 15:30

The UK is facing a range of place-based challenges around things like climate change, mobility, housing, & planning, and while the current policy approaches to addressing these are useful, there are major gaps which must be filled. This panel will explore how we can use new approaches to identifying, supporting, and applying innovative solutions on a local level to solve existing challenges with a national impact. The discussion will look at the different policy levers available to leverage innovation - from challenge programmes to testbeds to clusters - exploring common challenges and lessons learned. The focus will be on how we can ‘do innovation’ more effectively to achieve greater impact in local communities.

Coffee Break
15:30 - 15:45
FIRESIDE CHAT: What does ‘local innovation’ actually look like? London as a case study
15:45 - 16:00

This session will take the broader discussion from the previous panel from policy strategy to on-the-ground practicalities.

The session will begin with a scene-setting fireside chat looking at London as a model for local innovation clusters and testbeds, exploring specific challenges, lessons, and opportunities from innovation leaders on the ground.  

Sandy Tung
Principal Policy Officer, Innovation & Technology, Greater London Authority
Russell Gundry
Senior Director, Plexal
SPOTLIGHTS: What does ‘local innovation’ actually look like? London as a case study
16:00 - 16:30

Following the fireside chat, we will then spotlight high-impact case studies of SMEs or public sector organisations successfully leveraging innovation in their local communities to tackle pressing challenges. We will hear from the innovators themselves as they share their solutions, challenges, and practical lessons learned.

Samantha Kidjo
Innovation Lead,
Startup Discovery School
Morgan Lewis
Director, Material Index
Alex Russell
Executive Director, Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Development Trust
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Reflections on the day and opportunities from the London Growth Plan
16:35 - 16:45

Alex Conway - Assistant Director, Economic Development & Programmes at the GLA - will close the day reflecting on the achievements of the UKSPF, highlighting the successes of the FID programme, and looking forward towards how businesses of all sizes can benefit from the London Growth Plan.

Alex Conway
Assistant Director, Economic Development & Programmes, Greater London Authority
Networking Drinks
16:45 - 17:30

Attendees will be encouraged to continue the discussions raised in the session and connect with fellow innovation champions.

Join us on 23 April 2025!

Connect with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators shaping the future of place-based innovation.

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The Future Industries Demonstrator (FID)

The programme’s goal is to harness the power of climate solutions to address the real, everyday challenges faced by London communities. By focusing on the intersection between local challenges and market-driven innovation, we’re looking to accelerate the adoption of truly sustainable solutions — faster and with greater impact.

FID was delivered with:

Event Organisers

SHIFT is a catalyst for East London’s innovators, bringing together business, academia, government and local communities to find and scale solutions to the major challenges of city life.

PUBLIC is a digital transformation partner committed to helping the public sector turn innovative ideas into practical solutions, to create outstanding digital public services.