The University of Leeds has reinforced its commitment to innovation at one of the UK's largest property events.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Simone Buitendijk, was among the speakers at the UK Real Estate Infrastructure and Investment Forum (UKREiiF), which took place in Leeds from 16-18 May.
The conference line-up included ex-Premier League footballer turned property entrepreneur Gary Neville and former Downing Street press secretary Alastair Campbell.
The conference, in its second year, was set to attract more than 6,000 attendees and 500 speakers with a mission to accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive and transformational investment.
Professor Buitendijk was a panel member for an event at the Royal Armouries that explored how to build successful innovation eco-systems that matter to people, place, regions and countries.
She was joined by Lalit Suryawanshi, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Yorkshire start-up Itecho Health, which is based at the University's state-of-the-art innovation hub Nexus.
The University is proud to play a leading role in the Leeds community. We are passionate about cultivating an innovation eco -system with partners in the public sector and business world.
She added: “Through our research and innovation, and through training the next generation of global citizens, we can address some of the biggest societal challenges of our time, in close collaboration with the local community.”
Also appearing at the conference was Dr Martin Stow, University of Leeds Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Enterprise, who took part in an Innovation Breakfast panel at Leeds Dock. Dr Stow also attended a round table event with Rachel Reeves MP, exploring innovative strategies to encourage regional economic growth.
In a further event, delegates took part in an Innovation Arc Safari – a walking tour of Leeds’ innovation areas, including a trip to Nexus.
Dr Martin Stow, University of Leeds Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Enterprise, added: “Through initiatives such as Nexus we are bringing together research, businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to co-create and share knowledge. The UKREiiF conference provided an ideal platform to forge new relationships that will drive economic growth through development and regeneration."
Nexus brings together people from business, technology and academia. The Nexus community of high growth businesses is located across the globe but has its physical base on the University of Leeds campus.
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Picture credit: Alan Gallacher
For more information, please contact Corporate Communications Manager, Richard Abbott on r.abbott1@leeds.ac.uk