LCR4 START is a new initiative supporting Liverpool City Region SME business leaders and companies to gain a competitive edge through the development of practical strategies for effective digital adoption.

Businesses are seeking to embrace digital technologies more and more in their efforts to deliver increasingly efficient and profitable products.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is enabling businesses to transform digitally through high performance computing, data analytics and artificial intelligence at its Hartree Centre. Alongside this, 3D printing capabilities at STFC enable rapid prototyping of complex designs on a project-by-project basis, facilitating cutting-edge engineering R&D.

As part of LCR4 START, STFC is supporting SMEs in the development of an effective digital strategy offering practical, hands on support to enable them to identify opportunities to develop and deploy digital technologies to unlock business gains, growth and savings and, if appropriate, further funding.

Why you should attend this event?

This event will outline the full support that is available through LCR4 START, via STFC. There will be an overview of the programme followed by a break out session where companies can speak with STFC experts in the following areas to see how the programme can support them/if you are eligible.

Hartree Centre

Experts will work with companies to address real life challenges and accelerate the adoption of high performance technologies, delivering transformative gains in performance, productivity and time to market. STFC’s Hartree Centre is home to some of the most advanced computing, data and AI technologies in the UK.

Rapid prototyping enabled by additive manufacturing

STFC experts will work closely with companies to explore how 3D printing could aid product development and streamline manufacturing processes to reduce costs and time to market. They can also draw on knowledge from the Hartree Centre, creating opportunities for digital integration through virtual and augmented reality.

Who should attend this event?

To access this support companies have to fit the following criteria:

• Liverpool City Region based SME (Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, St. Helens, Sefton and the Wirral)

• Interested in developing digital strategy in business and have time to input into the project

Within the following sectors (but not limited to):

• Manufacturing (Pharma, FMCG, Aero, Auto etc.)
• Professional Services
• Health
• Energy
• Visitor Economy

Agenda

10:00 Arrival & refreshments

10:30 Welcome

10:40 Introduction to LCR4 START

• What can my SME access through LCR4 START?
• What are the benefits to my business?
• How to apply

11:10 Hartree Centre Overview

• Our advanced digital, data and AI capabilities
• Visualisation demo and success stories

12:00 Rapid Prototyping Overview & Tour

• Introduction to rapid prototyping
• Additive manufacturing/3D printing demo

12:30 LUNCH [You will have the opportunity to book one-to-one sessions]

13:15 One-to-one sessions* | Session #1

13:45 One-to-one sessions* | Session #2 [Opportunity to changeover]

14:15 Next steps, arranging follow-up actions

14:30 Close

*One-to-one sessions will provide an opportunity to meet with representatives from STFC to discuss one or two of the following areas:

• Research Software Engineering (RSE) and application development
• Data Science & Predictive Analytics
• AI & Chatbots
• Visualisation
• Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping
• Funding opportunities and business development

Launched in January 2020, LCR4 START is a part European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded business support programme specifically for Liverpool City Region SMEs, led by the Virtual Engineering Centre and delivered in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, Sensor City, Science and Technology Facilities Council and the Growth Platform.