Culture change or regional engagement – Which comes first?

The National Physical Laboratory’s regional engagement strategy illustrates how a national research institute can drive innovation and economic development by embedding itself within local ecosystems. Through strategic partnerships with universities in Huddersfield, Strathclyde, Surrey, and Cambridge, NPL has established regional centres that combine world-class measurement science with local industrial strengths. These hubs offer shared facilities, training, consultancy and collaborative R&D, ensuring that expertise becomes accessible to SMEs and regional innovation networks.

This place-based approach has enhanced skills development, attracted talent, and enabled greater alignment with national priorities in areas such as quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, and data science. NPL’s regional centres have secured significant joint funding, created pipelines of doctoral researchers, and strengthened industry–university collaboration across the UK. The case demonstrates how cultural change within institutions can be both the driver and the outcome of sustained regional engagement, leading to long-term economic and societal impact.

This case study was presented by Linden Fradet, Strategic Business Engagement Manager at National Physical Laboratory (NPL), during the 2025 UIIN Conference that took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands.