Conference Programme
The R&D Management Conference 2026 in Manchester offers a vibrant and thought‑provoking programme that brings together leading scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and innovators. Centred around the University of Manchester and its iconic cultural venues, the conference features an energising mix of plenary sessions, parallel tracks, networking events, and social gatherings designed to spark discussion and foster collaboration.
A detailed version of the program is available in three formats:
CONFERENCE APP (mobile version)
The R&D Management Conference 2026 app provides you with the most comfortable tool for planning your participation in the R&D Management Conference 2026.
Browse the complete programme directly from your phone or tablet and create your very own agenda on the fly. The app is available for Android and iOS devices. To download the mobile app, search directly for “R&D Management 2026” in the App Store or Google Play, click in the link below or use the QR code.
CONFTOOL (browser version)
If you prefer to use your browser, the programme is also available in ConfTool (note that if you have used the feature “My agenda” in ConfTool, you will need to create it again in the app). To use the browser option in ConfTool, click here.
PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK (printable version)
The participant's handbook includes information about the conference, the venue, and the city of Manchester. A detailed version of the programme is also available. Note that for the most updated version of the programme, you need to use the online version in the app or ConfTool. Download the participant's handbook:
Third version (20/06/2026)
Second version (19/06/2026)
First version (16/06/2026)
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Reception
18:30 - 20:30 Pre-registration reception at the Manchester Museum
(only for registered participants)
Post-conference activities
Digital Economy Ethics of AI Workshop
Time: Wednesday 24th June
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Nancy Rothwell Building (Room to be confirmed)
Presented by Digital Futures, this interactive workshop explores the ethical foundations needed to design and govern trustworthy AI systems across research, industry, and policy. A practical, discussion-led session for anyone working at the intersection of AI and innovation.
Speaker: Dr. Arash Hajikhani (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland; LUT University) will deliver a talk on AI ethics, focusing on responsible design, human-in-the-loop mechanisms, and the risks of opaque black-box models in decision-making across research, industry, and policy.
Participants roundtable: A panel of University of Manchester colleagues will respond to the talk and offer perspectives from across disciplines:
-
Prof. Philip Shapira — Professor of Innovation Management and Policy, AMBS. Expertise in AI, emerging technologies, and responsible research and innovation.
-
Prof. Manuel López-Ibáñez — Professor of Optimisation, AMBS. Expertise in algorithm development and complex mathematical optimisation.
-
Dr. Emily Collins — Dame Kathleen Ollrenshaw Fellow. Research themes include trustworthiness, accountability, and human factors in responsible AI deployment.
Visit to the Data Visualisation Observatory
Time: Wednesday 24th June
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM Group 1 (limited to 15 people)
3:15 PM - 4.00 PM Group 2 (limited to15 people)
Location: Alliance Manchester Business School. Please gather at the reception desk.
An exclusive guided visit to the Data Visualisation Observatory at AMBS, an immersive facility that turns complex datasets into striking visual narratives. Ideal for researchers and practitioners interested in communicating data effectively.
Visit to the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC)
Time: Wednesday 24th June
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (limited to 20 people)
Location: Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre. Please gather at the reception desk.
An exclusive visit to the GEIC — a world-leading facility accelerating the commercialisation of graphene and other 2D materials. See cutting-edge innovation spaces and learn how the University of Manchester bridges research and real-world application.
Sponsors
