Join networks, make connections; discover what effective knowledge transfer and open innovation can do for your business.
Please note: From August we will be closing our _connect networking groups. This will not affect your funding application(s).

"Open innovation is a paradigm that assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas, and internal and external paths to market, as the firms look to advance their technology."

Harvard Business School

_connect is an initiative from the UK's Technology Strategy Board with the singular aim of making open innovation happen.

The networks on _connect are home to some of UK Industry's brightest minds, and they are waiting to collaborate on their next exciting projects.

Join _connect and see what open innovation can do for your business.

Featured networks

Future Cities

The Future Cities Group is part of the Urban Living group


HealthTech and Medicines

Building a Healthy Nation through Business Innovation


Biosciences

Serving the Agriculture, Food and Industrial Bioscience Sectors


Materials

The Materials Community aims to bring together the materials supply chain to accelerate innovation, improve global competitiveness and sustainability.


Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Supporting the development of a new industrial RAS sector in the UK


Quantum Technologies

Building a £Billion business in Quantum Technology


Space

Connecting the spectrum of activities across the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy with existing communities, to foster a space community spanning government, industry and academia


ICT

Creating a competitive advantage for the UK by facilitating knowledge exchange on Information and Communications Technologies and accelerating innovation.


Electronics, Sensors, Photonics

To be a beacon for successful wealth creation from knowledge.


Defence and Security

Seeking both to improve the flow of knowledge between the UK’s civil and defence and security communities and to identify new opportunities for technology exploitation


New Events

Mon 12 Dec 2016

Solar Eranet Cofund Competition Brokerage Webinar

11:00 until 13:00

This SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund Competition Brokerage webinar is an ideal opportunity for organisations...

From Energy at KTN

Thu 08 Dec 2016

Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing and Materials Brokerage Event

All Day

To support the £5m SBRI funding competition: Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing and Materials, KTN...

From Nuclear

Wed 30 Nov 2016

Future challenges of Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals

12:30 until 18:00

Future challenges of Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals is an afternoon seminar presented by GE...

From Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group

Fri 02 Dec 2016

Visit the 3M Innovation Centre, Bracknell with MaDE

11:00 until 15:30

The MaDE Partnership connects materials science and design to stimulate innovation. Founding...

From Materials

Tue 04 Apr 2017

SynBioBeta London 2017

Apr 04 / 09:00 until Apr 06 / 17:00

For the 5th year in a row, SynBioBeta London 2017 will bring together thought leaders and...

From Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group

Upcoming Events

Tue 22 Nov 2016

Photonics and Opto-Electronic Packaging Conference

All Day

“Giving Light to your System Design” – The performance and cost of opto-electronic systems is dependent on assembly processes used in manufacture. Join us at the Photonics and Opto-Electronic...

From Electronics, Sensors, Photonics

Tue 22 Nov 2016

Driverless Technology Conference 2016

09:00 until 18:00

Now in it's second edition this year's event will focus upon accelerating growth within the UK driverless technology industry. Current technological capabilities for self-driving cars, highly...

From Energy Efficiency

Tue 22 Nov 2016

Food Matters Live

09:00 until 17:00

Food Matters Live is the UK's first cross-sector event bringing together professionals from across the food and drink industry, nutrition and health to address one of the most important challenges...

From Biosciences

Tue 22 Nov 2016

Annual Healthcare Lecture , IET London

16:00 until 21:00

We are delighted to announce our next Annual Healthcare Lecture will be taking place 22 November 2016. Come along and listen to 2016s IET Healthcare Award winners and our keynote speaker, Chris...

From HealthTech and Medicines

Wed 23 Nov 2016

13th Annual bioProcessUK Conference

All Day

Registration is now open and early-bird fees are available. Processing the priorities for the future - is the focus for the 13th Annual bioProcessUK Conference taking place on Wednesday 23 and...

From HealthTech and Medicines

Wed 23 Nov 2016

bioProcess UK 2016

All Day

This year’s Annual bioProcessUK Conference will centre on the theme “Processing priorities for the future”. The programme will be made up of keynote presentations, panel discussions, poster...

From Synthetic Biology Special Interest Group

Wed 23 Nov 2016

Circular Transitions

All Day

A Mistra Future Fashion Conference on Textile Design and the Circular Economy Chelsea College of Arts & Tate Britain, London Circular Transitions has been organised by Dr Kate Goldsworthy and...

From Sustainability & Resource Efficiency

Wed 23 Nov 2016

Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 UK Information Day

All Day

The National Information Day for Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 will take place on 23rd November 2016 in Birmingham. This free event is organised jointly with the Enterprise Europe Network in...

From Built Environment KTN

Wed 23 Nov 2016

13th Annual bioProcessUK Conference

Nov 23 / 09:00 until Nov 24 / 17:00

Focusing on Processing priorities for the future this years conference will update delegates on timely topics and issues, essential to the medicines manufacturing and biologics sector. Expert...

From Industrial Biotechnology

Wed 23 Nov 2016

Bridging the Gap: Tech and Agriculture

09:00 until 17:00

On 23rd November 11:00 – 15:30 come to the first of a two-part series on the use of digital technologies, such as Big Data and the Internet of Things, in the UK’s Agricultural industry. Partnering...

From Biosciences