On 10–11 September, the Institute for Manufacturing’s (IfM) Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM) hosted the 30th Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium, bringing together leading academics, industry professionals and policymakers.

Under the theme “Back to the Future: Recalibrating 30 years of supply network design in light of severe geopolitical and technological disruption,” speakers and delegates reflected on established network design principles while considering how global manufacturing must evolve to remain resilient. 

Drawing on Cambridge's longstanding expertise in international manufacturing research, the event explored how supply networks must adapt to an increasingly volatile global environment.

The symposium welcomed distinguished speakers from across industry and academia, fostering rich dialogue between research and practice. Interactive panel discussions, flash talks and research sessions added further depth, creating opportunities to explore emerging challenges, share new research, and exchange practical insights across academia, industry, and policy.

Sessions and discussions were structured around several key areas:

• Global manufacturing supply network design: Participants explored new design rules, the balance between globalisation and regionalisation, and changes in global manufacturing and Chinese industry.
• Digital supply chains, innovation and transformation: Sessions examined digital technologies, analytical capabilities, governance models and ecosystem collaborations that could create value at scale.
• Supply chain weaponisation and cascade risk: Discussions considered the implications of economic coercion and interconnected risks, alongside approaches to anticipating and mitigating disruption.
• Circularity and resource security: Participants explored how remanufacturing, reuse, repair, reverse logistics and secondary materials could transform manufacturing and supply network design.

Professor Jagjit Singh Srai, Professor of Research and Head of CIM, summarises, “An incredible set of keynotes, workshops and parallel sessions marked our 30th anniversary Symposium. Our ‘Back to the Future’ theme allowed presenters to reflect on how the current febrile context around geopolitics, climate and Agentic AI might best be navigated.

“My key takeaway: Geopolitical realignments and innovations like new production technologies, digitalisation and AI demand new rules for manufacturing supply chain design.”

Delegates echoed these sentiments, “Another excellent Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium,” Cliff Gillis, Senior Leader Global Technical Services at Caterpillar Inc., reflects. “It was a privilege to spend the Symposium with such a strong mix of industry participants, presenters and academics. Some excellent insights and plenty to reflect on, particularly around geopolitics, industrial strategy, AI and the changing shape of global manufacturing networks. A fitting way to mark the 30th Symposium.”

Amir M. Sharif, Head of Norwich Business School, added: “A great symposium celebrating 30 years of the CIM — wonderful reflections on the success and development of manufacturing strategy and all that followed, with a clear view on our present and future challenges in an era of severe geopolitical, technological, climatic and socioeconomic risk.”

The symposium reinforced Cambridge’s ongoing role as a global platform where academia, industry and policy meet to shape the future of international manufacturing.

Register your interest for the 31st Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium: https://engage-events.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/CIMsymposium2026#/registerinterest2026

 Members of the Centre for International Manufacturing group.