Transfire

Reimagine Materials and Manufacturing Event
2023-04-04 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE, United Kingdom
At this event, you will learn how Innovate UK is supporting innovation across the industry. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions directly to expert innovation leads at Innovate UK and seek guidance around partnering and funding opportunities from Innovate UK KTN. If you are applying for funding from upcoming collaborative research & development (CR&D) competitions and are seeking partners, you will benefit from the event.
Register here: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/reimagine-materials-and-manufacturing-event/

Circular economy workshop and networking event
2023-02-28 09:30 - 16:45 | Hybrid Event
WINFI (Women Innovators in Foundation Industries), as part of the TFI Challenge, is hosting a Circular Economy Workshop and Networking Event. This insightful event aims to provide a platform for businesses and early career researchers (ECRs) to network and discuss the topic of circular economy for materials. The event will feature talks from businesses working in the circular economy, an interactive workshop facilitated by Cirklo and Accelar, and a roadmapping activity facilitated by the UKRI Circular Economy Hub.
These sessions are open to any stakeholders (of any sex and gender) in the foundation industries and related materials sectors.
This will be a hybrid event and presentations will be streamed and workshops will be in person only at Reed Hall, University of Exeter.
Find out more and register here.

Net-Zero, Industrial Decarbonisation, and the ‘Non-Technical’ Dimensions of Transformative Change
2023-02-08 12:00 - 13:00 | University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, Room 2.15
SKAPE is delighted to host Kyle Parker and Steve Yearley (University of Edinburgh).
Kyle and Steve will be presenting on “Net-Zero, Industrial Decarbonisation, and the ‘Non-Technical’ Dimensions of Transformative Change”.
Abstract:
This talk reports on research being conducted within STIS as part of the UK’s TransFIRe Hub – a large investment by UKRI/EPSRC involving over 20 investigators from 12 UK institutions, in addition to Project Partners from more than 70 organisations (including companies, NGOs and government organisations.
TransFIRe is about the meeting point of two huge challenges and transformations confronting UK industry: namely, the impacts of Brexit on international competitiveness, and the drive towards decarbonisation and the UK’s 2050 ‘Net-Zero’ target. This is of particular importance to the so-called Foundation Industries (FI) – the energy-intensive industries that produce the material from which other products are made (for example, metals, glass and ceramics). Ordinary people are seldom customers for foundation-industry products, but they (we) buy the things made from FI outputs.
In this talk we will draw on policy analyses and one main Scottish, industry case study to investigate how the future of the Foundation Industries is being shaped and imagined or ignored in the UK. Most of the research that is currently being conducted on FIs is focused on technical adaptations and improvements. Our emphasis is on other factors, including the planning system, political objectives, and community-industry relations. Though this research is focused on the UK, the talk has implications for comparable OECD member states.
Speakers:
Kyle Parker: After working as an academic research chemist for 10 years, in 2018 I came to the University of Edinburgh to study policy support for accelerating technology development in Scotland’s marine renewable energy sector. From 2020-2022 I worked as a Research Fellow on the ‘Energy Policy Effectiveness’ project for the ClimateXChange research agency, where I produced systematic evidence reviews on energy and climate change policy issues on behalf of the Scottish Government. This work focused primarily on green industrial strategy, and accelerating the deployment of low carbon heating and energy efficiency technologies in Scotland.
I currently work as a Research Fellow on the TransFIRe (Transforming the Foundation Industries Research Hub) project, studying the socioeconomic dimensions of transformative change and industrial decarbonisation.
Steve Yearley holds the Chair in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK) in STIS, the subject area of “Science, Technology and Innovation Studies”.
Steve is well known for his work in social studies of science and in environmental sociology. Key to his work is thinking about environmental issues from an STS or SSK point of view – for example, looking at the ways in which environmental activists have adapted to dealing with scientific evidence.
In his empirical work Steve is particularly concerned with areas where STS and environmental sociology overlap: for example in environmental controversies with a pronounced scientific element (such as with climate change and with continuing disputes over the safety or otherwise of GMOs and the associated concerns around synthetic biology) or, for example, in attempts to foster public engagement in technical decision-making in environmental areas (for instance, through his work on citizen engagement in urban air-quality issues). Currently, Steve is working on industrial decarbonisation in the UK, and also doing some writing that links back to his work at the Genomics Forum.
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This event will take place in person at the University of Edinburgh, Chrystal Macmillan Building, Room 2.15.

Deploying AI Solutions in Foundation Industries
2022-12-20 09:00 - 09:45 | Virtual – Zoom
TransFIRe Seminar
Deploying AI Solutions in Foundation Industries: Lessons Learned from ‘Furnace AI’
Dr Peter Green, University of Liverpool
Tuesday 20 December
9am – 9.45am (30 minutes talk and 15 minutes questions)
Zoom (details below description)
All are invited to an online TransFIRe seminar on Zoom, aligned with the Glass Technical Working Group.
This presentation focuses on the outputs of a recent deployment of an AI-based monitoring system for float glass manufacturing with NSG Pilkington: Furnace AI. We discuss the challenges associated with transitioning AI solutions from academia to industry, with a focus on both technical aspects (e.g. scalability to large datasets, the removal of data that is towards the end of its lifecycle) alongside the ‘softer’ challenges that must also be addressed during deployment (e.g. risk ownership and user trust). Finally, based on the outcomes of the Furnace AI project, potential avenues of future research are suggested.

Topic: TransFIRe Seminar – Dr. Peter Green
Time: Dec 20, 2022 09:00 AM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://shu.zoom.us/j/93627963585

Meeting ID: 936 2796 3585
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Transforming Foundation Industries Network+ Conference 2022
2022-11-09 - 2022-11-10 | University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
TFI Network+ is pleased to announce their first face-to-face conference will be taking place on 9th and 10th November 2022 in Manchester.

About this event

The conference will be an opportunity to bring together the Foundation Industries community to discuss the latest innovations and developments in the Foundation Industries. There will be many chances to network throughout the event, as well as poster sessions, Q+A and a conference dinner.
Agenda, speakers and further details to follow soon. Register early to book your place.
There will be some opportunity to livestream the keynote presentations, but this will be limited and delegates are strongly advised to attend in person to experience the full conference.

Enablers of Transformation Workshop for Foundation Industries
2022-10-12 10:00 - 15:30 | Doubletree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Granary Wharf , 2 Wharf Approach, Leeds, LS1 4BR
This workshop is a collaboration between Transforming Foundation Industries Network+, TransFIRe and the Leeds University Business School exploring how Foundation Industries can effectively engage with policy makers and embed business models to enable transformation across sectors.
The workshop will include a panel discussion, interactive workshop, keynote and short presentations. We will hear more on government policy, supply chains and business models and how they can be effectively utilised and integrated to boost innovation and transformation in Foundation Industries.
Venue: Doubletree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Granary Wharf, 2 Wharf Approach, Leeds LS1 4BR
Agenda
10:00 – Registration and refreshments
10:20 – Welcome and introductions by Prof Susan Bernal Lopez and Prof Vera Trappmann
10:30 – Introduction to Network+ by Director Professor Ian Reaney
10:45 – Keynote speaker – Dr Effrosyni Tzoura, Innovation Manager at Ferrovial
11:15 – Dr Ben Walsh, Deputy Director Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge at Innovate UK
11:35 – Dr Diana Casey, Director at Mineral Products Association Cement
11:50 – Coffee break
12:00 – Panel discussion moderated by Prof Cameron Pleydell-Pearce, panel members TBC
13:00 – Networking lunch
13:45 – Interactive workshop led by Prof William Sampson
15:00 – Closing remarks and next steps
15:15 – Event close

This workshop is aimed at primarily Industry members of Foundation Industry sectors but we welcome registration from all.
Some portions of the event will be livestreamed, however we are only able to facilitate limited interactive elements and there may be portions of the day not available to virtual delegates.

18th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing
2022-10-05 - 2022-10-07 | Production Technology Centre, Pascalstraße 8-9, Berlin, 10587, Germany
The Technical University of Berlin (IWF) and Fraunhofer IPK cordially invite you to the 18th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing (GCSM) in Berlin, Germany.
The GCSM serves as a global forum for academics, researchers, and specialists from universities, research institutes and industry across the globe, working on topics related to sustainable manufacturing. A unique feature of the GCSM conference series is its integration of industrial engineering perspectives, sustainable manufacturing applications in emerging and developing countries, as well as education and workforce development for advancing sustainable manufacturing.
Sustainable Manufacturing is the buzzword for our global conference, taking place annually since 2003 and returning to Berlin for the third time in 18 years. The conference aims to exploit manufacturing engineering potentials for bridging the gap between awareness on sustainability challenges and means to systematically and concretely cope with them.
To overcome the challenges of global sustainability becomes an ever more urgent task, as the awareness about imbalanced wealth distribution, climate change and lack of holistic responsibility in investments are considerably rising. Interdisciplinary discourse and reasonable action in learning and teaching on topics such as circular technology and economy, distribution of labor for comprehensive human development, careful use of natural resources and prudence are responsibilities of global citizens.

Materials Research Exchange
2022-10-03 - 2022-10-05
Materials Research Exchange (MRE) 2022 will be taking place 3rd – 5th October 2022 and will be delivered as face to face with potential virtual add-on for selected seminars. The event is organised and run by KTN and Innovate UK, taking place at the Business Design Centre in London and will be full of new insights about what materials research and innovations are taking place to help the UK recover, become more resilient and grow.
We are planning for targeted seminars on a range of cutting-edge areas such as materials for Net Zero, including materials for the production, transportation and storage of hydrogen and the use of hydrogen in low carbon production of materials, the scale up of graphene and metamaterials for industrial applications. We will be holding sessions on technology transfer from UK’s world class research base, with a focus on high performance, net zero materials required by key sectors such as transport, medical, construction, packaging, clothing and other wearables. The event is designed to enable closer collaboration between industry and the materials research and innovation community.
Who will be attending?
Industrial representatives and investors will attend as delegates to view what the researchers have on show, discuss the ideas presented and form partnerships. Academics have the opportunity to network with other experts in different material disciplines. International delegates will have the opportunity to view UK’s world-leading capability in new materials development and meet with potential collaborators.
Expected Outcomes

Connecting UK research and innovation excellence in advanced materials with UK
product manufacturers and investors to collaborate and exploit latest advances
Providing a platform to attract international interests in UK advanced materials
research, leading to export opportunities and inward investments

Sustainable Design and Manufacturing
2022-09-14 - 2022-09-16 | Croatia, Hotel President Starceviceva 1, Split, 21000, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
The conference encompasses a broad spectrum of sustainable design and manufacturing related subjects. The following list provides examples of applicable topics; however, the list is not meant to exclude other applicable areas.
Generic Topics of Interest
Sustainable Design, Innovation and Services
Ecodesign and eco-innovation; closed-loop design; design for environment; design for social sustainability; sustainable innovation; DfX (for lifecycle) – manufacturing, assembly, testing, use, recycling, etc; sustainable product and service modelling; design thinking for sustainability; design innovation for sustainable city, transportation, water and food security.
Sustainable Manufacturing Processes and Technology
Environmentally conscious manufacturing processes; energy and resource efficiency and effectiveness in advanced manufacturing processes (e.g., RP/additive/layered manufacturing, micro and nanomachining, laser-based manufacturing); sustainable manufacturing processes; re-manufacturing processes and techniques; technology for waste recovery.
Sustainable Manufacturing Systems and Enterprises
Product life cycle management; end-of-life strategies; energy management and efficiency improvement for production systems; predictive maintenance and service for sustainable manufacturing; sustainable supply chains and green logistics; sustainable business models; green factory; societal impact of manufacturing systems; policy aspects of sustainable manufacturing.
Decision Support for Sustainability
Life cycle assessment and costing; intelligent decision support methods and tools for sustainable manufacturing; value mapping and assessment for sustainable manufacturing and society; diagnosis and prognostics; virtual and collaborative environment for sustainability; user behaviour models for sustainability; system thinking for sustainability.

UK Metals Expo
2022-09-14 - 2022-09-15 | NEC, North Ave, Birmingham, B40 1NT, United Kingdom
By 2030, a modern and progressive UK Metals Industry will be supplying high quality, innovative and competitively priced products to a wide range of customers. It will be the principal supplier to the UK’s main manufacturers and infrastructure projects, and a leading global exporter.
The UK metals industry is seen by many as a sleeping giant – self-sufficient and slow to change. The reality is that it is a uniquely placed powerhouse of UK industry with many of its own challenges and opportunities. Coming years will see the need to rise to some significant challenges such as skills shortages, recycling effectively and trading post Brexit.
The UK Metals Expo will be the first time that the entire industry is both represented and brought together fully under one roof.
UK Metals Expo benefits from full endorsement and collaboration from the UK Metals Council, it’s member trade associations and numerous other industry bodies. With a new Governing Body chaired by Lord Rupert Redesdale the influence of the event will be year-round with major initiatives, challenges and successes discussed and presented in detail in the show floor theatres.
The entire metals supply chain will be represented from primary metal manufacture, supply chain management, processing metals, fabrication, surface coatings and recycling with industry experts, leading vendors and trade attendees.
Theatre themes include Supply Chains, Innovation, Skills, Circular Economy and Resources. These will set the tone for the event which will be heavily driven by sharing an agenda driven each year by the Governing Body.
Anyone with a career in the metals industry will want to attend, any organisations providing goods or services to this industry will want to be represented.

Industrial Symbiosis Workshop
2022-07-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Virtual – Microsoft Teams
Workshop Summary
The aim of this session is to bring together the six foundation industries, with representation from their respective supply chains, to identify opportunities for industrial symbiosis. The focal point of our workshop will be the use of a simple, internationally proven resource matching methodology that seeks to identify new business opportunities for participants’ waste resources. The session would be interactive and will require a modest amount of preparation from all delegates ahead of the event. The output will be a significant number of industrial symbiosis synergies, some quick wins and others longer term innovation opportunities. All will have the potential to reduce cost, cut carbon emissions and reduce waste disposal.
You will be contacted prior to the workshop to provide information on your own resource HAVES and WANTS. This is a key component of the matching process which is undertaken on the day.
• HAVES are resources that your company produce and wish to find a higher value market opportunity for, these could be resources such process wastes, by products, energy and heat, water, logistics or processing capacity.
• WANTS are resources that your company could potentially use as process inputs and represent an opportunity for a more cost effective and sustainable source of raw material, water, energy or logistics.
For ease, this information can be provided using data already being collected as part of the TransFIRe project but will need your express permission for its use as part of the matching activity. If this is not desirable, then one of the TransFIRe team will contact you to arrange to talk through your own resource data input.
Workshop Agenda
The agenda for the resource matching workshop is:
13.30 Welcome and Introductions
13.45 Introduction to TransFIRe and the Resource Matching Workshop
13.55 Interactive Resource Matching Session
15.20 Workshop Summary and Close
Workshop Follow Up
Within a week of the event’s conclusion, you will receive your own bespoke company report identifying those potential resource matches that were created on the day, as well any additional opportunities that have been identified from our supporting data analysis.
Our intention is to hold a follow up workshop on the 19th of July, for which you will receive a separate invite. Here we will present the outcomes of the resource matching session and engage in a discussion on how together we can successfully advance the identified synergies.

Sustainable Industrial Manufacturing
2022-06-28 08:00 - 2022-06-29 17:00 | Brussels Expo Centre, Belgium
Hosting leaders from the worlds of industry, innovation, science, government and investment, the exhibition and conference programme at SIM Europe is packed with experts ready to debate and demonstrate how manufacturers in hard-to-abate sectors can boost productivity, efficiency and margins whilst transitioning towards net zero.

Transportation Requirements to Move to Net Zero 2050
2022-06-16 10:45 - 16:00 | Royal Academy of Engineering, Prince Philip House, London, SW1Y 5DG, United Kingdom
We held a series of road mapping workshops to produce a circular economy transport roadmap. The CENTS team will use this roadmap to outline transportation requirements needed to move to Net Zero 2050. Everyone will also work together during the workshop to address various topics such as shared transport and how to bend the linear economy circular.

UK Solidification workshop
2022-06-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Brunel University, Brunel University, London, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom

Industrial Decarbonisation Showcase
2022-06-06 08:00 - 2022-06-07 17:00 | Heriot-Watt Campus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom

Foundation Industry Forum
2022-05-11 00:00 - 2022-05-13 00:00 | Virtual – Zoom
Watch videos by clicking on the titles
An interactive programme of events to share insights and learning across Foundation Industries to support progression towards transformation. The forum includes a series of workshops with the opportunity for you to meet industry experts and leading academics.
Workshop One: Transforming Industries from within – our EDI approach
How do we become truly transformative within our industries? How can we become more inclusive and diverse in our workforces? What are the changes that we are making? An opportunity to hear from practitioners and industry, to share your experiences and develop good practice guidelines.
Workshop Two: Transformation Futures, Sharing updates from our Projects
What needs to happen to transform Foundation Industries? Completed Network+ project showcase. TransFIRe Technical Working Groups & Case Studies. Discussion on learning and insights from research and how it supports transformative change.
Workshop Three: Horizon Scanning and Research and Innovation Priorities
This session will explore four future scenarios for the Foundation Industries, invite discussion on approaches to resolve challenges, and set priorities for research and innovation in the short term and for further investment in the longer term.
