08 October 2026 · CO:LABS · Harwell Campus

ENGINE
Summit

Advanced R&D for competitive advantage, one day, five themes and direct access to the people and capabilities redefining what’s possible.

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The UK’s advanced R&D ecosystem, in one place

Meet the people turning complex challenges into real-world breakthroughs.

ENGINE brings industry, academia, investors and the public sector together with the UK’s most advanced scientific facilities and expert teams.

Expect keynote perspectives, focused facility talks, industry panels, demos, one-to-one partnering and an evening reception celebrating the opening of CO:LABS.

Find out more

Access advanced facilities

Discover the scientific instruments, facilities and specialist teams available to support industrial R&D.

Meet the right partners

Connect with experts, investors, academics, public sector teams and innovative organisations.

Explore new capabilities

See how advanced research can help validate materials, accelerate development and de-risk innovation.

Accelerate R&D

Find the expertise and equipment to unlock breakthroughs beyond your own labs.

Ideas from the people shaping what comes next

Featured speakers

Leaders across science, policy and industry will share practical insight into the capabilities changing the future of R&D.

Dame Nicola Blackwood

Life sciences

Dame Nicola Blackwood

Chair of Genomics England, Chair of Oxford University Innovation and on the Board of BioNTech SE

Professor Charlotte Deane MBE

Quantum & AI

Professor Charlotte Deane MBE

Professor at the University of Oxford and Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Professor Martin Freer

Materials & energy

Professor Martin Freer

Chief Executive Officer, Faraday Institution

Roger Eccleston

National capability

Roger Eccleston

STFC Executive Director, National Laboratories: Large Scale Facilities and Head of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Professor Frank von Delft

Structural biology

Professor Frank von Delft

Professor of Structural Chemical Biology

Professor Irene Tracey

Science leadership

Professor Irene Tracey

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford

Also joining the speaker line-up

More speakers joining us

  • Professor Gianluigi Botton

    Professor Gianluigi Botton

    CEO, Diamond Light Source

  • Professor Paul Matthews

    Professor Paul Matthews

    Director, The Rosalind Franklin Institute

  • Sara Wells

    Dr Sara Wells MBE

    Director, Mary Lyon Centre & Chief Biological Resources Facility Officer at The Francis Crick Institute

  • Professor John Collier

    Professor John Collier

    Director, Central Laser Facility​

  • Professor Sarah Rogers

    Professor Sarah Rogers

    Director, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

  • Dr Sarah Beardsley

    Dr Sarah Beardsley

    Director, RAL Space

Speaker participation and session details are subject to final confirmation.

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One summit. Five connected frontiers.

Programme highlights

Explore the programme by theme. Full timings, stages and session formats will be announced as the agenda is confirmed.

Policy & national capability

6 events

Opening keynote Featured

Redefining Possible: The Impact of National Labs

Roger Eccleston

Campus capability

Future Labs: The Campus Capabilities Pipeline

John – Central Laser Facility

Innovation strategy

Understanding the Problem-Solution Fit

Colin Cooper

SMEs

Start It Up: Advanced Capabilities for SMEs

Fred Campbell – Outfox Bio

Access

Gateways: The Front Door to National Labs

Barbara Ghinelli

Collaboration

The Collabs: Advanced R&D Capability x the World's Most Advanced Companies

Lee Glassbrook

Take the next step

Ready to get involved?

ENGINE Summit is free for employees in commercial R&D roles, investors, UKRI, academic and public sector staff.

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Organisations joining ENGINE

Hear from organisations working across life sciences, energy, space, materials and advanced engineering.

and many more…

The venue

CO:LABS

ENGINE Summit will take place in CO:LABS, Harwell’s brand-new building designed to support collaboration across science, technology and innovation. The event will culminate in an evening reception and the official opening of CO:LABS, marking an important new chapter for Harwell Campus and its growing community of researchers, businesses and innovators.

Hosting in CO:LABS, The Summit connects directly to the building’s purpose: bringing people, ideas and capabilities together to accelerate discovery and innovation.

Learn more about CO:LABS ↗

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