IfM PhD student Ali Niazi was one of a number of science enthusiasts gathered at the Department of Engineering this summer to pitch their innovative ideas to an audience, including a panel of judges, in just three minutes. 

Led by IfM and Innovate UK's Made Smarter Innovation programme, the Women in Manufacturing initiative's Changing Perceptions conference aims to improve gender representation in the manufacturing sector.

Emerging findings from a government commissioned UK semiconductor study will be shared by IfM Engage consortium in six locations around the UK.

A grant of £1 million has been awarded to a team of researchers, including the IfM's NanoManufacturing group, to propel the advancement of carbon nanotube processing.

A new report from DM-ET explores the integration of human and digital decision-making processes.

Following on from an article featured in Nature, we speak to IfM's Professor Chander Velu about the potential impact of quantum computing on growth and productivity.

The IfM has hosted the EINST4INE summer school, bringing together leading academics, young scholars and industry professionals for a week-long event focused on digital innovation.

Lefan Wang, from the IfM's Computer Aided Manufacturing Group has been awarded a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship for her research project on foot biomechanics.

The Open Innovation Forum met in Wageningen in early July and heard pitches from innovative companies seeking to change the food, drinks and FMCG sectors for the better.

In a recent Harvard Business Review article, IfM researchers explain how food companies can better measure their sustainabiity. 

Douglas Brion from the Computer-Aided Manufacturing Group has been awarded two prestigious awards for his PhD research and startup, Matta.

In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, 23 June, we present some of the inspiring women who work at the IfM.

A series of Women in Manufacturing events, led by IfM Engage, attracted much attention at M and E Week in Birmingham earlier this month.

The IfM were on hand at M and E Week 2023 to provide expertise on the latest research and insights into digital and sustainability challenges. 

This year’s MET Design Show on 7^th June saw an impressive array of creative student inventions on display. 

Issue 14 of the IfM Review is now available both in print and online. 

The annual first-year PhD conference took place this week at the IfM, where our newest researchers presented their research to their peers.

An IfM project to explore the application and potential benefits of a metaverse in manufacturing has received funding from InterAct. 

Experts from the IfM have contributed to a new paper in The Lancet Psychiatry which sets out concrete solutions to prevent premature mortality from mental illness and distress.

IfM Engage consortium has been commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) to undertake a study into infrastructure to grow the UK semiconductor industry.

IfM practitioners have contributed to the report Changing Minds, Changing Lives which proposes innovative, evidence-based approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat depression in young people.

The Supply Chain AI Lab (SCAIL) recently participated at AI UK 2023 in London with a demo of an innovative supply system which aims to significantly lower emissions from delivery vehicles.

A new study commissioned by the Government Office for Science (GOS) to map and characterise the UK non-human health life science sector, has been published by Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy. 

A new report highlights key trends across UK industry, explores the country's productivity and global industrial performance, and asks whether enough is being invested in R&D.

We received many imaginative entries to our competition during the Cambridge Festival at the IfM and the winners have now been announced.

On Saturday 18^th March, the IfM hosted its most well-attended Cambridge Festival event since Covid-19 and attracted at least 500 visitors of all ages to come learn about and play with engineering.

On Saturday 18th March, the IfM opens its doors for the 2023 Cambridge Festival. Among this year’s activities is a demonstration of research from the Fluids in Advanced Manufacturing (FIAM) group, featuring a jelly brain in a box!

Three PhD students from the IfM Elisa Roth, Mirko Moencks, Jessica Horn along with their supervisor Thomas Bohné (Head of the Cyber-Human Lab at IfM) successfully facilitated a public live session at the recent World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.

To encourage more diversity and inclusivity in the sector, a network of academics, practitioners, and professionals working in the field of manufacturing have come together to establish the Women in Manufacturing initiative.

The card game, developed by the Centre for Industrial Sustainability, helped the company’s leaders to drive a global program that is saving over 100,000,000 KWh every year.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers' recently paid a visit to the Department of Engineering including the IfM. 

The IfM Postdoctoral awards were established in 2019 in recognition of the vital role postdocs play in driving research and innovation, delivering teaching, and contributing to the academic community.

The IfM will contribute to a new project to improve indoor air quality and health, 

developing virtual sensors and combining physical models, 3D building models, and hardware sensor data to estimate pollutants.

Entrepreneurs from around the world took part in the 11th Open Innovation (OI) Forum’s annual Food, Drink and FMCG competition to pitch solutions to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A new series of films tell the story of how the IfM, Cambridge University Hospitals and Royal Papworth Hospital collaborated during the COVID-19 crisis – and how they built a foundation for the future.

Masterclasses, thought leadership and live demonstrations were all part of an extensive IfM contribution to the flagship Digital Manufacturing Week event.

The report finds that the UK is well placed to translate leading research on quantum science and engineering into increased productivity, and offers recommendations for driving adoption and economic growth.

Eighty per cent of mobile health apps fail to deliver their intended impact. Second year IfM PhD student Devmalya Sarkar tells us why he wants to help firms change this.

Dr. Sebastian Pattinson and Douglas Brion of the IfM’s Complex Additive Materials Group have developed a machine learning algorithm that can detect and correct a wide variety of different errors in real time.

Issue 13 of the IfM Review is now available. This edition explains just how much the IfM approach applies to healthcare, as well as including all the latest exciting work from across the institute, spanning our technology, management and policy activities.

In recognition of working with Addenbrooke’s and Papworth hospitals during the pandemic, Cambridge University Hospitals have awarded 31 ‘Covid stars’ to IfM staff and students. 

The IfM is collaborating with technology company Enspan, AML Sheffield and Manufacturing Technology Centre and industry partners to help UK manufacturers address the challenges of supply chain risk prediction.

Dr Veronica Martinez and Nicolai Huss map out the benefits of digital twin-based satellite services as well as the barriers that need to be overcome in a new executive briefing.

We would like to congratulate our 2021 IfM Postdoctoral Award winners for their excellent contributions to research, teaching and academic citizenship.

Dr Jagjit Singh Srai - along with members of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Advanced Manufacturing and Value Chains - has published a new paper looking at business model innovation opportunities for manufacturing companies.

A White Paper authored by members of the IfM’s Cyber-Human Lab team on how the fourth industrial revolution is transforming the relationship between technology and human beings has been published by the World Economic Forum.

Entrepreneurs from around the world took part in the 10th Open Innovation (OI) Forum’s annual Food, Drink and FMCG competition to pitch solutions to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As official knowledge partner for Digital Manufacturing Week 2021, the IfM delivered a packed schedule of masterclasses, keynotes and live demonstrations – all designed to help delegates unpick the key business challenges of today.

A report prepared by the IfM and published by the European Commission looks at the extent to which Intellectual Property (IP) facilitates or hinders Open Innovation, particularly in relation to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The IfM’s Jag Srai and Duncan McFarlane have been recognised in the 2021 Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Research Impact and Engagement.

A new report forms part of a wider project by the IfM’s Centre for Technology Management to explore how innovation methods used by industry can be applied to complex healthcare applications.

The IfM has worked with global printing company Domino to help optimise ink designs for different production environments.

The institute is working across projects in connected factories and healthcare innovation, partnering with government, industry, catapults and academia.

The prize recognises Alan’s outstanding contribution to the IfM’s flagship educational ‘Robot Lab’, which has become one of the defining features of the Manufacturing Engineering Tripos (MET).

The institute is part of a winning bid led by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust to host one of four new UK hubs supporting the adoption of innovations in healthcare.

Their achievements and commitment to positive social change impressed a panel of judges consisting of four stakeholders representing the community, the University of Cambridge and organisations dedicated to supporting student social action.

DIAL started out as the Manufacturing Automation & Control Systems Group (MACSG) in late 1995 with three people...

The institute’s work on hospital logistics, PPE delivery and the development of a ventilator sharing device was recognised.

Innovate UK have commissioned a study, conducted by the Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy and the Policy Links Unit, to inform the development of innovation hubs, a new support mechanism within the Manufacturing Made Smarter initiative.

The project is supported by the UK government and will test how 5G and the Industrial Internet of Things can enhance productivity, efficiency and safety at the port.

The IfM Postdoctoral Awards recognise the excellent contributions of postdocs to research, teaching and academic citizenship.

An innovative new technology to make bioplastics and other sustainable plant-based materials and a method to industrialise photosynthesis to expand the world’s food supply were the winning ideas at the Open Innovation (OI) Forum’s annual Food, Drink and FMCG pitching competition.

This term, the University has embarked on the weekly COVID-19 testing of all Cambridge students living in college accommodation. A group of IfM staff, students and alumni are handling the job.

The initial case study will explore an integrated approach to innovation for the identification, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression in young people.

The institute will contribute to the University of Cambridge’s role in the Productivity Institute, the largest economic and social research investment ever in the UK.

We are proud to announce that the IfM has received a President’s Special Award for Pandemic Service for our work in combating the coronavirus.

The team has been developing digital fabrication capabilities to support the production of face masks and face shields needed to address the COVID-19 outbreak.

The event focused on how to apply socio-economic systems thinking to address the systematic geopolitical challenges related to safely repatriating Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh.

We are proud to announce that the IfM has been awarded a Green Impact Platinum Award from the University’s environmental accreditation scheme.

The new device, which is being developed in collaboration with Cambridge Design Partnership, improves upon and addresses concerns about previous ‘ventilator splitter’ designs, allowing one ventilator to be used by two patients more safely.

The new unit will help to drive a step change in universities’ contributions to delivering increased R&D and innovation in the UK.

Innovate UK has commissioned the Policy Links Unit to conduct a study to better understand challenges and opportunities for international research and innovation (R&I) collaboration in the advanced manufacturing and materials sector.

Dr Michael De Volder, who leads the IfM's Nanomanufacturing group, has been awarded funding of two million euros from the European Research Council to manufacture Li-Ion batteries with enhanced energy and power density for use in electric vehicles.

Abjjad, an Arabic social network for readers, authors, and bloggers in the Middle East, completed an intensive business diagnostic workshop with the IfM to analyse their priorities and strategies and be mentored to automate their core operations.

Jack Levy, Fathima Nisha Begum Samad and David Cordova, MPhil students in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management, received a Vice- Chancellor’s Social Impact Award for their efforts in supporting Addenbrooke’s Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using the IfM’s IP Strategy Roadmapping tool, Pratheeba Vimalnath and Graham Bell helped the winning organisations to think through their approach to their burgeoning intellectual property.

Two Wolfson College students from the Institute for Manufacturing are working with experts at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Baker Lab to help streamline testing for COVID-19.

A new project including IfM researchers Lucia Corsini and Dr James Moultrie will develop digital fabrication capabilities in Malawi to support the production of urgently needed face masks and face shields.

WE Lead Food, a programme for women driving change and sustainability in the food sector, is looking for participants for the 2020 programme, beginning in October in Cambridge.

The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard grant is awarded to early career researchers to help launch their research careers, providing up to £100,000 over two years.

IfM researchers are working to help the hospital model patient flow, examine the hospital's oxygen supply, and better understand staffing challenges.

IfM spin-out Redbite Solutions have provided their object-tracking technology, itemit, to co-ordinate donations of PPE equipment in fight against COVID-19. The technology is ensuring that only NHS-approved items are forwarded on to the NHS. 

After its scheduled meeting was curtailed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the forum brought together over 50 participants from 20 member companies using virtual collaborative tools.

If you are an engineering or manufacturing company, read the ways you can get involved with tackling the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dr Jag Srai attended a meeting at Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, looking at state-level policy interventions to encourage the development of agri-tech and digital platform technologies for agri-business in Punjab.

IfM ECS recently hosted the ‘Advancing Communities towards low-Carbon Energy Smart Systems’, or ACCESS, project partners in Cambridge to discuss the latest developments of the pilot studies taking place in communities across Europe.

Industry trailblazers Andrea Thompson (BAE Systems), Andrea Hough (ATEC Engineering Solutions) and Donna Edwards (Made Smarter) say manufacturing SMEs can inspire a generation and close the gender gap.

Dr Diana Khripko recently spoke at E-World Energy and Water in Essen on digital transformation in the energy industry, highlighting IfM tools and approaches which can support organisation at different steps of the digital journey.

A recent pilot study, led by Dr Yuta Hirose in Japan as part of the IfM's STIM Consortium, saw a new application of roadmapping to support technology venture concept design and strategy visualisation. 

IfM researchers are leading a pioneering project to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the food sector. A series of 'MAKEathon' events is drawing on the hackathon model to address food industry challenges.

A recent meeting of the Open Innovation Forum brought together companies from across the food sector to consider the potential impact of AI and Big Data. Watch the highlights in this short video.

Researchers from IfM Fluids in Advanced Manufacturing Group have created a miniature winter scene for this year's IfM Christmas Card. The scene has been created using lasers and inkjet printing and the trees are no bigger than 10mm high. 

Huge congratulations to Ying Wan Loh, a former IfM student, who has been recognised with this prestigious award by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Sharing our content and perspectives from the largest manufacturing event in the UK calendar: an opening keynote from Tim Minshall, a series of IfM workshops, and engagement across the manufacturing community. Catch up with what you missed.

Professor Steve Evans, Head of the IfM’s Centre for Industrial Sustainability, gave a keynote talk at the prestigious ‘How to change the world’ conference in London on 28^th November, as part of a stellar line up of speakers including Malcolm Gladwell, Noam Chomsky and Robert Winston.

The IfM Briefing on 'Strategic approaches to digitalisation', held in Liverpool on 12th November, explored how manufacturing companies can use new technologies to underpin their business strategy.

Dr Doroteya Vladimirova and Ian Bamford from the Centre for Industrial Sustainability led a two-day course on Sustainable Value Innovation at the Norwegian Centre of Expertise iKuben in Molde, Norway.

Professor Tim Minshall, Head of the IfM, features in the latest episode of ‘Create the Future’ podcast from The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, alongside materials scientist Dr Anna Ploszajski.

Issue 11 of IfM Review considers how digitalisation is changing manufacturing and how organisations can best develop strategies to respond.

The Innovate Irrigation Challenge, launched this year by AB Sugar in partnership with the IfM and WaterAid, has announced the competition winners.

The Centre for Industrial Sustainability has joined a partnership with Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and ISQ in Portugal under the umbrella of TRUST aiming to boost research excellence in the area of INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINABILITY.

The IfM were proud to run a pilot scheme for Postdoctoral Awards - the first place in the University to take forward such a scheme. Awards were presented in three categories; Excellence in Teaching, Excellence in Research and Excellence in Academic Citizenship.

The IfM Briefing on ‘Developing Industrial Capabilities’ on 23^rd Sept drew a large audience to hear thought-provoking ideas from leading thinkers and practitioners.

The 'Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring' open workshop drew in a large audience of SME manufacturers, providers and industry associations to find out how to engage with this radical research project.

Carlos López-Gómez of the IfM's Policy Links Unit delivered a seminar at BEIS for UK government policy makers, on the recommendations of an IfM report into strengthening value chains for economic growth.

This episode explores 'augmented humans', the engineering and ethical challenges of how humans interact with technology, with Dr Thomas Bohné and Dr Karina Vold.

Researchers at the Institute for Manufacturing are working with the Environment Agency to explore the potential use of incentives within environmental regulation.

A recent event organised by the Centre for Industrial Sustainability brought together researchers and business leaders to explore how industrial activities could have a net-positive environmental impact.

Professor Steve Evans, Director of Research of the IfM’s Centre for Industrial Sustainability, has been elected to the prestigious Academia Europaea in its 2019 awards.  

Young leaders from across the UK and Latin America will gather in Cambridge in September to discuss science, policy and innovation for a changing world. IfM's Cristina Rodriguez-Rivero, on the organising committee, explains more.

Issue 10 of IfM Review features work across the IfM, including policy, sustainability, ecommerce, inkjet in advanced manufacturing, intellectual property, and more, with a connecting theme of 'capturing value'.

David Leal-Ayala of IfM's Policy Links Unit delivered a keynote talk at the Global Manufacturing Summit (9-11 July, Yekaterinburg, Russia) on a new report on the Safety and Security Dimensions of Industry 4.0.

An entrepreneurial producer of alternative protein, Protifarm, has been voted as the winner of the IfM’s Open Innovation Forum Spring pitching event, held in London on 26^th June.

The Institute for Manufacturing recently co-hosted an event 'A roadmap to create effective strategic and innovation plans' in Milan, Italy.

Problem Solvers: the IfM podcast. Episode 1: We explore sustainable innovation in the food industry, with Professor Steve Evans and Gary Punter.

The first in a new series of IfM Briefings provided a platform for leading research and industrial case studies on sustainability and security in the global food industry.

The IfM convened a roundtable event for researchers and policy analysts from leading international organisations (the OECD, UNIDO, UNCTAD and World Economic Forum) at Madingley Hall to consider issues for the future manufacturing workforce.

To celebrate International Women in Engineering Day on 23^rd June we asked some of IfM’s brilliant females to tell us about their work and what inspires them about engineering.

New solutions for low-cost automation for SME manufacturers were demonstrated to project partners at the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring meeting.

The economic value of manufacturing to the UK is being underestimated in official statistics, potentially by as much as half, according to a new report by Jostein Hauge and Eoin O'Sullivan.

This year’s MET Design Show on 5^th June once again saw an impressive array of creative student inventions on display. 

On 6^th June the IfM threw open its doors to over a hundred collaborators, friends and new connections, to showcase the diversity of work that takes place here.

IfM colleagues discuss how simple technologies are transforming millions of lives each day, how VR is being utilised to safely train staff in some of the most dangerous jobs, and how the latest lasers are being developed to build the cities of the future.

IfM Education and Consultancy Services is part of 'ACCESS', a European project which is bringing together experts and governments around joint challenges to support larger uptake of low carbon grid-related technologies in communities and ‘Smart Cities’.

HCL Technologies officially joined the Cambridge Service Alliance as a gold member during a recent signing ceremony held in Cambridge. 

April's meeting focused on the theme of delivering health and well-being, and was hosted by Walgreens Boots Alliance in Nottingham, with over 60 participants from Forum members. We welcomed three new member companies to the consortium.

Building on the growing momentum around our Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring initiative for SMEs, a recent workshop explored the possibilities for low-cost digitalisation options for larger companies.

‘Pulsar’ engine was designed and constructed from scratch by Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) students from the Engineering department.

John Reddaway, who has died aged 92, was a Cambridge engineer who introduced what became known as the “Reddaway plan”, a pioneering approach that brought engineering students face-to-face with the practical demands of manufacturing industry and which remains the inspiration for much teaching and training at the IfM today.

In March 2019, a series of IfM-related events were held in Tokyo, Japan to develop mutual learning opportunities between Japan and the UK.

Dr Jag Srai has been appointed as the new Co-Chair of the Cambridge Global Food Security Interdisciplinary Research Centre, replacing Professor Chris Gilligan.

We threw open our doors once again this year for an exciting afternoon for families, with robots, lasers, microscopes and virtual reality.

Tim Minshall provided an enthusiastic keynote at the Business Weekly Awards, celebrating Cambridge's 3Cs - creativity, collaboration and change.

A tour of the IfM included a visit to our robot lab, photonics, and a chance to try out our virtual reality gear.

This well-deserved award for Kate Willsher, IfM ECS's Chief Operations Officer, recognises positive impact in leadership practice and leading teams.

The Future of Open Innovation Practices Day was hosted by the IfM in Cambridge on 13^th February, as the culmination of the EC-funded project Science2Society.

An exciting culmination to an innovation project in Thailand, using a creative approach to upcycling waste products, saw one of the local entrepreneurial teams win a design award.

Scientists Should Spend Time in Industries, Learn Their Problems

Professor Sam Turner from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult joined us at the IfM on 11^th February, in the fourth guest talk in our ‘Distinguished Speakers’ series.

IfM and IfM ECS support teams were proud to receive a 2018 University of Cambridge Vice Chancellor’s Professional Services Award; well-earned recognition of the amazing work that goes into making the IfM such a friendly, collaborative and innovative place at which to work and study.

Contribute to the latest research into the digitalisation of roadmapping by taking a survey on the customer perspectives. If you have used roadmapping in your organisation or taken part in roadmapping workshops, we would appreciate your feedback.

The Future of Engineering special report, published in The Times, addresses the concerns occupying the sector's leaders, featuring an opinion piece by Prof Steve Evans.

The Centre for Technology Management is offering the opportunity for an organisation to participate in their research programme – specifically helping to plan/enhance digital transformation initiatives through the use of roadmapping.

The Open Innovation Forum’s annual pitching competition, organised by IfM for start-ups in the food, drink and FMCG sectors, has been won this year by an ingenious, portable DNA test which can rapidly identify contamination risks in food.

IfM played a key role at the largest manufacturing event in the UK, Digital Manufacturing Week, with speakers, workshops, our exhibition stand, and plenty of engagement. Catch up with what you missed. 

The latest issue of IfM Review features outstanding examples of recent collaborative projects across the IfM.

We were lucky to be joined on 30 Oct by Dr Leo Christodoulou of The Boeing Company, who talked to an engaged IfM audience about the exciting engineering challenges of aerospace manufacturing.

The Cambridge Service Alliance Industry Day considered the question 'Disruptor or Disrupted?' as its theme, looking at the next generation of digital technologies and the impact on service delivery. 

A packed programme at the 22nd Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium featured keynote talks from senior executives and thought leaders.

IfM co-hosts roundtable for international experts on manufacturing foresight and policy analysis.

CSTI brings together policymakers and researchers to explore ‘place-based’ funding programmes.

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between IfM Education and Consultancy Services and EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

MET students displayed their original products, designed to have real business potential for an identified market. 2018 projects include Hexamill, Leaflogger, Soap for Life, the Hyperbot Pro, and several more creative inventions.

Leaders and senior executives from industry, government and academia gathered together for a lively and thought-provoking annual Briefing Day at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) on 17th May.

The IfM's Executive and Professional Education programme has won the prestigious EFMD Silver Award for its learning partnership with Atos and Paderborn University.

Children in local primary schools around Cambridge have been learning more about ‘How Stuff Gets Made’ thanks to a programme being delivered by engineering students and researchers and the Faculty of Education.

Research from the Institute for Manufacturing will be discussed at the Future Oil & Gas conference in Aberdeen on 12 June 2018.

The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), part of the Department of Engineering, has been selected to help enhance the Internet of Things (IoT) as part of a new collaborative project.

Policy Links presented the results of a study on international approaches to innovation policy, commissioned by the Brazilian Industrial Board (CNI).

Budding young engineers and scientists were treated to a plethora of exhibits at the West Cambridge site on the last Saturday in March.

ReMediES partners meet at the IfM to report on progress as this phase of the project nears completion.

IfM Education and Consultancy Services are a delivery partner for the Sharing in Growth programme which has just won the Semta Innovation Award.

Dr Jag Srai, Head of IfM's Centre for International Manufacturing, is taking part in a three-day workshop in Delhi to launch the TIGR2ESS project.

Dr Srai has written a blog, been interviewed for a podcast and guest edited the World Economic Forum's Agenda Weekly Expert Edition, sharing insights on digital supply chains with WEF's community of experts. 

Rapid advances in production technologies, particularly when allied with the digitalisation of manufacturing, promise a huge range of opportunities for national governments and individual firms.

Newton Director Andrew Hawes shares some of the secrets behind his life-business success and some fond memories from his time at Cambridge.

Katjana Lange is developing novel techniques for ultrafast machining of high temperature superconductor nanostructures at the Centre for Industrial Photonics.