15 June 2023 | Innovation | Our Work
Trade associations from across the highways sector have pledged their support for next month’s LCRIG Innovation Festival.
The overarching theme for this year’s event, which is taking place from 4-5 July at Newark Showground, is ‘Showcasing emerging technology and maintenance solutions’.
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 with numerous trade groups now also throwing their weight behind the event.
Trade bodies set to support this year’s event and representing different areas of the highways sector include: ITS (UK), Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), ARTSM, British Parking Association (BPA), LGTAG and NWSRG.
Paul Boss, Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), said: ”The RSTA is supporting the Innovation Festival as this is such an important part of making highway asset management more sustainable and efficient. Innovations are out there but getting them to the right audience and contacts can be a showstopper. The Innovation Festival provides a platform for innovators to show and demonstrate their innovations to the right audience at minimal cost, an audience who can go on to trial, provide feedback and adopt their use, giving others the confidence to take them up, with the best ones becoming business as usual. Last year’s event was incredibly successful and we look forward to the even bigger and better event planned for this year.”
Justin Blades, CEO of Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), commented: “The Institution of Lighting Professionals is proud to support and attend LCRIG’s Innovation Festival in 2023. As the leading professional body and learned society for lighting professionals in the UK, engaging with and supporting those working in local authorities is a key objective for us and this event is a great way to do that. Innovation in the provision of lighting to the community is vital and this event is helping drive that innovation for the benefit of local communities”.
Steve Spender, CEO of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), said: ”The IHE is pleased to support the LCRIG Innovation Festival as the Institute recognises the importance of innovation in a sector that faces many challenges in an increasingly technology driven environment, all of which will impact on the highway sector and how we deliver our services in the future. The PDP agreement signed between our two organisations will help support those working in the sector to embrace innovation and new working techniques as they are introduced.”
Rukshan Soysa, Operations Manager at ITS (UK), said: “ITS UK are pleased to take part in the Innovation Festival and support this unique event once again in 2023. We look forward to discovering the new products, solutions and innovations at this year’s show and to connect with the highways community, government, local authorities and other key stakeholders including industry associations like ourselves.”
LCRIG Content Director Alec Peachey said: ”Collaboration helps drive innovation so we are pleased to have secured the participation of so many key trade associations which represent various different parts of the industry. We will continue to work with them to help drive change in the sector.”
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.
View the draft event agenda here.
Find out more and register for the event here.