Three approaches to transforming innovation into sustainable business growth

Wednesday 22 January 2025

Press contact

Press Team
press.mac@coventry.ac.uk


As Coventry University Group gears up to host the third Venturefest Mobile Hub on the 6 February 2025, Paul Fairburn (Director, Innovation Ecosystem) shares three actionable steps that businesses can take to drive their innovations forward.

Collaboration is key

For businesses today, the path to success goes beyond having a great idea or product. It's about collaboration - working with the right people to accelerate your innovation and solve the challenges that matter most.

At Coventry University Group, we’ve long believed in the strength of industry-academia collaborations, as they allow us to apply our research and theoretical knowledge to solve real business challenges, such as decarbonisation and renewable energy, and translating it into something tangible that can have immediate impacts on industries, economies and communities.

The reason why these collaborations are so powerful is simple: businesses and universities are inherently complementary. Universities are filled with bright minds pushing the boundaries of science and technology, uncovering new ideas and knowledge that have the potential to change the way we live and operate. But without practical application, these ideas remain ideas. This is where businesses come in, as they bring the commercial and operational experience, market insights and the ability to scale. By combining these strengths, businesses can not only implement the latest research but also drive it further, so the impacts are felt faster, ensuring that innovation reaches its full potential.

Embracing emerging technologies

Take, for example, the collaborative research at our Institute for Advancing Manufacturing and Engineering’s (AME), where we’re developing next-generation battery technologies with Unipart and Global Nano Network. Electric vehicles (EVs) are essential to decarbonising road transport and dependent upon advanced battery technologies to meet both technical and commercial requirements. By combining our research-driven innovation with practical manufacturing expertise, we’ve refined the entire battery production process, from research and prototyping to full-scale manufacturing. And along the way, we’ve identified the technical, economic and workforce challenges of scaling up battery production, co-creating solutions that support the future of sustainable mobility.

What we see here is a key example of how collaboration accelerates the transition of ideas from research to reality. Concepts that start in a lab can quickly be tested, refined and then scaled when paired with industry expertise. But more than that, collaboration helps address the barriers businesses face when adopting new technology, such as issues surrounding supply chain logistics, regulation or skills gaps that can slow down the pace of innovation. It’s not just about creating the technology; it’s about identifying and then implementing an ecosystem that can support it.

Sustainability is success

Moreover, the rapid evolution of technology, combined with the urgent demand for sustainable solutions, presents businesses with a unique opportunity to innovate responsibly while driving growth. Businesses that align their strategies with environmental targets are better positioned to attract investment, win customer loyalty and stay ahead in competitive markets.

This latest in the series of Venturefest Mobile Hub events will see us go into depth about how the Clean Futures programme is powering business growth through sustainability. Through tailored technical and commercial support, funding, and access to our facilities like AME and our Centre for Advanced Low Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS), businesses are fully equipped to trial, refine and scale their green innovations. This is yet another example of how university-industry collaborations can create a ripple effect - combining knowledge and resources to elevate businesses and drive benefits for wider society.

At the event, attending businesses will gain insights into how collaboration and sustainable innovation can drive the solutions of tomorrow. So far, the digital age has seen innovations rise and fall, and businesses need to stay ahead of the curve to survive. It’s about focusing the best minds to fuel your business growth, aligning objectives and working together towards a shared vision of the future. And when done right, collaborations can drive not just business success but positive change across entire industries and societies.


Register your place for the Venturefest Mobile Hub.

Find out more about Clean Futures and AME.