RiR Showcase 2025 celebrates collaboration and innovation across the UK
On Wednesday 9th April 2025, over 150 delegates gathered at Cavendish Venues in London for the Researcher in Residence (RiR) Showcase, hosted by the Innovation Launchpad Network+. The event brought together researchers, Catapult staff, funders and industry leaders to celebrate the achievements of the RiR scheme and explore future opportunities for collaboration.
Throughout the day, attendees heard from Researchers in Residence across three thematic areas: Net Zero, Resilience, and Health & Wellbeing. Presentations ranged from 15-minute deep-dives to rapid flash talks, alongside live demonstrations and poster sessions highlighting the real-world impact of these cutting-edge projects.
The RiR Showcase 2025 featured a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers who underscored the event’s emphasis on innovation and collaboration. Dr. Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, shared her personal journey of turning research into real-world innovation, whilst Dr. Amanda Chmura from EPSRC provided insights into the EPSRC‘s commitment to fostering research that addresses societal challenges. Dr. Megan Ronayne, representing the Catapult Network, emphasised the role of Catapults in bridging the gap between academia and industry and Prof. Dave Greenwood, CEO of WMG, shared perspectives on advancing manufacturing and engineering through collaborative research initiatives.
Dr Amanda Chmura also featured on a fireside chat with three other guests: Two RiRs in Dr. Greg de Boer and Dr. Ola Michalec as well as Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Dai Lews, offering a wide-ranging discussion on the power of research-industry collaboration and the future of the RiR programme.
The RiR scheme, funded by EPSRC and supported by the Catapult Network and Innovate UK, has now supported over 100 researchers across all nine Catapults. This event marked a milestone moment for the programme, underlining its value in translating academic excellence into practical, scalable solutions for industry.
With such strong momentum and engagement from across the network, a follow-up RiR Showcase is planned for 2026, continuing the mission to foster collaboration and champion innovation. Earlybird registration for this event is open now.
