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Thursday Gathering
GROW AI: From Innovation to Adoption in Greater Manchester
Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM GMT

📍 Venue: SISTER – Renold Building, 32a Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR

 

Grow AI is a landmark £12.8M partnership project between Manchester Met and the University of Manchester, funded by the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), to supercharge the AI cluster in Greater Manchester. 

 

The Challenge AI Labs will bring together corporates, SMEs, communities, academics and students to solve Greater Manchester’s challenges in their 4 frontier sectors. 

 

The first of these unique Labs focuses on health, in partnership with Health Innovation Manchester and organisations across Greater Manchester. Challenges are shaped openly by the people who understand them best — including those who own the problem and those most affected by it.

 

Selected companies will work alongside NHS partners, academics and other businesses to develop practical, scalable solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing challenges. We will then move on to tackle challenges with AI in the Creative and Digital, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing and Net Zero sectors.

 

This special Venture Cafe session is an opportunity to start this conversation about where GM needs innovation in each of these sectors, and how entrepreneurs and SMEs can be part of the solution.

 

In partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University

Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency 

Event Program
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5:00 PM - 8:00 PM GMT
Connect: Pizza and Networking
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5:30 PM - 5:35 PM GMT
Welcome Remarks: Venture Café
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5:35 PM - 5:45 PM GMT
Introduction: GROW AI with Manchester Metropolitan University
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5:45 PM - 6:30 PM GMT
Roundtable: Advanced Manufacturing
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5:45 PM - 6:30 PM GMT
Roundtable: Creative & Digital
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5:45 PM - 6:30 PM GMT
Roundtable: Health & Life Science
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5:45 PM - 6:30 PM GMT
Roundtable: Net Zero
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6:30 PM - 6:45 PM GMT
BREAK
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6:45 PM - 7:15 PM GMT
Panel Discussion:
Featuring
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Professor Kirsty Fairclough
Professor of Screen Studies | School Of Digital Arts Research and Innovation Lead
Manchester Metropolitan University
Andy Haywood
Chief Digital & Data Officer
Health Innovation Manchester
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Graeme Heyes
Director of Sustainability
Litmus Sustainability
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Andrew Ruffler
Director
Venture Café Manchester
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Jennie Shorley
Academic Director, Centre for Enterprise
Manchester Metropolitan University
Location
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