SRPe Annual Conference 2022 (#srpe22)

Left: Claire Ordoyno - SRPe Interim Director. Right: Professor Sir Jim McDonald - Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, SRPe Chair

On Monday 21st Nov 2022, SRPe hosted its annual conference in Edinburgh. It was an engaging and vibrant event showcasing the world-class engineering research taking place across Scotland’s universities, as well as collaborations from across the ‘triple-helix’ of academia, industry and government.

The conference began with a welcome speech by SRPe Interim Director Claire Ordoyno and opening address from SRPe Chair, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde and President of the Royal Academy of Engineering which set the tone for the day.

Keynote Speaker: Chris Courtney, CEO - The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

Keynote Speaker: Adrian Gillespie , Chief Executive - Scottish Enterprise

In addition to keynote speakers Chris Courtney, CEO of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, and Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, delegates were treated to presentations from a line-up of inspiring and influential speakers from across academia, industry and government / public sector during sessions on each of the SRPe strategic theme area of Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Advanced Manufacturing, Infrastructure & Environment and Engineering for Healthcare. There was even some audience participation in the form of robotic stretches to keep us on our toes!

Left: Professor Steve Petrie, Board Member, Built Environment-Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Infrastructure & Environment Theme Guest Speaker. Right: Professor Sean Smith, SRPe Infrastructure & Environment Theme Chair.

Simon Reeve: Director of Innovation - The Alan Turing Institute. Robotics & Autonomous Systems Theme Guest Speaker

Jennifer McDonald: ED&I Manager - National Manufacturing Institute Scotland. ED&I Showcase Guest Speaker

Left: Alan Thompson, Government Affairs, Skyrora Ltd, Advanced Manufacturing Theme Guest Speaker. Right: Professor Duncan Hand, Vice-Chair, SRPe Advanced Manufacturing Theme

Professor Yvan Petillot: Chair, SRPe Robotics & Autonomous Systems Theme

Professor Helen Hastie: Director - ESPRC Centre for Doctoral Training Robotics & Autonomous Systems (CDT-RAS), Equality Diversity & Inclusion Showcase Guest Speaker

Professor Trish Connolly: Chair, SRPe Engineering for Healthcare Theme

Mark Cook: Chair - Life Sciences Scotland, Engineering for Healthcare Theme Guest Speaker

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives from across the SRPe Partnership Universities and collaboration organisations were also highlighted in our EDI Showcase, while at our interactive research exhibition delegates were able to experience first-hand the broad spectrum of innnovative engineering research being delivered by Scotland’s universities.

Left: Professor Xiu Yan, SRPe Robotics & Autonomous Systems Theme Member. Right: Claire Ordoyno, SRPe Interim Director with University of Strathclyde Research Exhibition ‘Pepper Robot’.

Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) Research Exhibition

University of Glasgow Research Exhibition

We were also delighted to celebrate and support the next generation of engineering talent coming through, with the finalists’ of our Industry Doctorate Poster Competition on display at the conference. Delegates had the opportunity to meet with the doctoral students and their academic and industry supervisors to hear more about the industry research challenges and opportunities addressed by our two Programmes; the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland Industry Doctorate Programme (NMIS-IDP) and the SRPe Industry Doctorate Programme (SRPe – IDP).

It was a fantastic day enjoyed by delegates from across academia, industry and government / public sector agencies and we are already looking forward to seeing everyone at next year’s Annual Conference #srpe23

Right: Rutele Marciuliontye - Industry Doctorate Poster Competition Joint 3nd Prize Winner

Left: Nathan McLeod - Industry Doctorate Poster Competition 1st Prize Winner Right: Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, SRPe Chair

Left: Rutele Marciulionyte - Industry Doctorate Poster Competition Joint 3rd Prize Winner Centre: Claire Ordoyno, SRPe Interim Director Right: Vasiliki Tzanakopulou - Industry Doctorate Poster Competition Joint 3rd Prize Winner

Industry Doctorate Poster Competition Winners. Left to Right: Konstantin Popov - 2nd Prize, Nathan Mcleod - 1st Prize, Claire Ordoyno - SRPe Interim Director, Vasiliki Tzanakopulou - Joint 3rd Prize, Rutele Marciuliontye - Joint 3rd Prize.

SRPeDecember 15, 2022