The Third Thematic Workshop & Study Visit was supposed to take place in Coventry (United Kingdom) during semester 4 of the RECREATE project. Because of all issues related with the COVID-19 pandemic, it was cancelled and then organised online on 16th and 21st September 2020 by the Lead Partner Coventry University Enterprises Ltd.
The workshop focused on Financing Innovation. After a general overview of Coventry University Enterprises Ltd services, the participants were shown the main aims and objectives of the RECREATE project, as well as the progress up to date. It followed an overview of the economy and the transport sector of the West Midlands Region. The first presentation showed the transport sectors in the region, the level of innovation, the issues and challenges of the region, the main types of funds available. The second presentation was dedicated to urban mobility development for the City of Coventry and the West Midlands Region and showed the main results achieved. The last session presented the work that Transport for West Midlands is doing in the area, people’s travelling behaviour, the COVID-19 impact, the main transport innovation projects.
On the second day of the event, some of the Best Practices of the region were showed:
- Horiba Mira, a global provider of pioneering engineering, research and test services to the automotive, defence, aerospace and rail sectors, working in close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers around the world.
- The National Transport Design Centre, a state-of-the-art facility, operating within Coventry University and designed to explore new areas of transport design research and find new ways to use existing equipment, as well as creating new technologies.
- Coventry University Technology Park, a 20 acre site comprising 14 unique dedicated business facilities in the heart of Coventry, that encourages and supports the start-up and development of innovation-led, high-growth, knowledge-based businesses.
- The Simulation Centre, a leading edge, purpose built training facility, located on Coventry University Technology Park, that can be used into many different training environments, including Business Continuity, Customer Services, Leadership and Management, Situational awareness, Negotiation, Assessment Centres, Environmental Impact Assessment, Oil and Gas, Humanitarian response, Community resilience, Health and safety, Auditing.
- Conigital (the Connected Digital company), a deep tech, AI driverless vehicle company with the mission of digitally connecting autonomous vehicles to empower mobility for all, working with major OEMs, private businesses, academic institutions and governmental organisations, both domestic and internationally.
All RECREATE Project Partners as well as their local stakeholders from UK, Greece, Lithuania and Romania participated in the online event.