The University of Cumbria has invited businesses to work with academia to discuss potential research collaborations.

The Cumbria Research and Innovation conference celebrated the university’s research and innovation projects that has used throughout Cumbria, Lancashire and beyond.

Cumbrian motorsport team M-Sport, Carlisle United and the university hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are among organisations who have recently made use of the research capability of the University of Cumbria.

Conference director and professor of health technology and innovation, Professor Alison Marshall said: ”This is very much open to the community of Lancashire and Cumbria who might want to consider collaborating with us.

“As the university embarks on its tenth anniversary year, the conference offers an exciting opportunity to consolidate partnerships and develop new ones.”

The event will include a panel of speakers discussing the possibilities of external collaboration and the benefits this can bring, research, knowledge exchange and innovation discussions and research by PhD students.

The conference will also offer an excellent opportunity for networking and engaging in discussion in a range of subjects.

Professor Frank Peck, research director of the centre for regional economic development at the university has developed research on what Brexit will mean for the region.

He said: “It will be looking at the implications for the north west, post-Brexit.

“Building on our recent conference “Brexit and the Border” it is not all bad news and there are some potential benefits from leaving the EU.

“From the rural economy to the nuclear industry, this part of the UK will see many changes and the university is well positioned to help research and signal where the opportunities and threats lie.”

The free event is due to take place within the Alexandra Building at the university’s Lancaster campus on July 7th.