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Innovation Hub

The Institute's Sustainability Innovation Hub is a dynamic centre of transdisciplinary activity. We promote innovation, collaboration and the adoption of sustainable practices, products, or services linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Hub acts as a platform to bring together scientific experts with organisations. It fosters an ecosystem that encourages collaboration with a commitment to turn research into actionable solutions.

Purpose of the Hub

The Institute's Sustainability Innovation Hub helps organisations (such as businesses, government, or social enterprise) to develop, or fast-track the adoption of sustainable solutions. We embrace agile innovation practices, collective intelligence and systems thinking approaches to address complex change, transformation and innovation.​

Through the Hub, fellows of the Institute for Sustainability have a facilitated and supported consultancy framework with access to external organisations and vetted opportunity to engage and collaborate across disciplines.

The Hub is, in effect, a precursor to growing both ‘spin in’ and ‘spin out’ activities in sustainability.

Spin in activity

Organisations spin into the Institute and access our inventions, research, technologies and facilities to develop an opportunity through a collaborative approach​.

Spin out activity

Scientific experts are encouraged to generate and to facilitate the transfer of new inventions and knowledge which have real-world impact on society​.

Read about the Institute's Sustainability Innovation Hub in the Guildford Business Guide (pg 39) here. 

Aims of the Hub

The Hub is co-designed in consultation with businesses and innovation experts to:

  • Promote innovation, creativity and engagement in science​
  • Foster collective problem-solving abilities and address sustainability challenges at scale​
  • Support knowledge exchange, drive impact and boosts policy-business engagement​
  • Strengthen research with action​
  • Position the Institute as a critical player in the global transition to sustainable living​
  • Position the Surrey County as a global hotspot for sustainable wellbeing.

Benefits of using our Hub

  • Fully costed approach
  • Formation of consortiums of organisations with shared problem statements, to work at scale​
  • The Institute adds seed funding, match funding and resources to support the project management.

Project highlights

Raising the alarm: how a weather-health alert system could help combat the effects of climate change

The aim of this project was to consult with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to test various stakeholders’ experience of using a newly implemented Weather-Health Alert system. This project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG3, SDG9, SDG11, and SDG13.

Two small children building a den in the woods

Guiding a reconnection with nature: ‘BeNature’ guide and toolkit

The ‘BeNature’ project is a collaboration between the Institute and Surrey Wildlife Trust, to guide researchers, teachers, nature leaders, and parents in growing a sustainable relationship with nature. This project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) including SDG3, SDG4, SDG11, SDG15, and SDG17.

Promoting Sustainability in the Animal Health Business: vHive Incubator Business Community Session

A bespoke learning session for companies in the Animal Health sector, delivered by vHive Incubator and supported by the Institute. This community session aligned with SDG9, SDG12, SDG15, and SDG17. 

Introducing DECO2: Decarbonisation planning software for ASEAN countries

In collaboration with Dr Michael Short and his team, the Institute has created an e-brochure that introduces DECO2, an open-source software for optimal decarbonisation planning in ASEAN countries. This project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG1, SDG7, SDG8, SDG9, SDG11, SDG13, and SDG17.

Windsor Station surveys inform strategic plan for future train travel

Led by Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos, findings from this project will inform the design of a bespoke Strategic Station Plan (SSP) tested at Windsor & Eton Riverside and Windsor Central Stations in collaboration with Network Rail for wider application across the community and rail network. The project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG7, SDG11, and SDG17.

Photo credit: The research team

Our seven step methodology

  • Select

    • Determine tangible change
    • Measure reproducibility.
    Abstract image of person and sustainability

  • Discover

    • Challenge identification
    • Problem statement(s).

  • Define

    • Project co-design
    • Systems thinking for identification of inter-connections
    • Mindmap sessions/ roundtable discussion.
    People collaborating

  • Consult

    • Open innovation with the broader community.
    Campus lake

  • Refine

    • Solutions mapping
    • Value proposition
    • Refine through feedback loop.
    Woman's arm

  • Test

    • Develop prototype
    • Implement
    • Test applications in living lab environment.
    Trees on campus

  • Roll out

    • Monitor real-world impact.
    Postgraduate students walking

Get in touch

Is your challenge sustainability related? Please email innovation.hub@surrey.ac.uk to get in touch and to receive our contact form. 

For any other queries, please email ifs@surrey.ac.uk 

Innovation at the Hub

Read about the Institute's Sustainability Innovation Hub in the Guildford Business Guide (pg 39). The University has a responsibility to local, national and global society to make a positive impact for the benefit of all. 

Read more here.