Emerging technology and maintenance solutions will be front and centre at this year’s Local Council Roads Innovation Group’s Innovation Festival which is taking place from 4-5 July at Newark Showground.
The overarching theme for this year’s event is ‘Showcasing emerging technology and maintenance solutions’ and LCRIG will be working closely with the Transport Technology Forum to deliver this.
The private road network area at the venue will be used to carry out live demonstrations with a bigger exhibition space and demonstration area being used. Industry experts have been lined up to support the event.
The Innovation Festival is an event where products, solutions, new innovations and techniques can be displayed and demonstrated over a range of live demonstration sessions. The event provides local authorities with a chance to find out about new innovations from the supply chain that will help to meet their current and future challenges.
One of the main elements that sets the Innovation Festival apart from other industry events is the fact that qualifying innovators are given the chance to receive funding towards development or to secure trials with local authorities. A portion of all exhibition space and sponsor sales at the event are put into the LCRIG / Steve Berry Innovation Fund. In addition public sector places are fully funded.
Local Authorities are invited to score innovations across several different categories. This year’s categories are as follows: Fleet and equipment; Bridges and other structures; Climate resilience; Transport technology; Surfacing; Biodiversity; Traffic Signs and Lines, Street Lighting and Collaborative Innovation.
Ian Large, Chair of LCRIG’s Infrastructure Innovation Board, said: ”We’re back with a bang this year and the Innovation Festival is set to deliver on everything it did in 2022 year plus much more. Showcasing emerging technology and maintenance solutions is absolutely vital and it is so important that local authorities are provided with an opportunity to look, see and touch the latest innovations which can help them do their jobs more effectively. LCRIG is continuing to make the case for innovation and I would encourage everyone to attend this sector-leading event.”
The 2023 conference programme will feature updates from the winners of last year’s Innovation Festival and the councils they have been paired with. Delegates will also hear from LCRIG’s Infrastructure Innovation Board, the Transport Technology Forum and Innovate UK. There will also be a focus on skills.
This year’s event will be bigger and better with more demonstrations taking place highlighting things such as in vehicle technology which can deliver more efficient transport networks and showcase services such as GLOSA (Green Light Optimum Speed Advisory), in-vehicle signing and probe data capture.
LCRIG is inviting its members and the wider supply chain to get in touch to discuss initial ideas around potential demonstrations, or to register their interest in taking part in the festival.
Industry expert Lee Merces will be putting together an outdoor demonstration programme with Andy Graham providing technical support.
Details of exhibition packages and booking forms can be found here.
Anyone interested in putting ideas forward for potential demonstrations should contact Charlotte Bromley in the first instance via email at charlotte.bromley@lcrig.org.uk