The Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR), based at Alliance Manchester Business School, welcomed more than 600 delegates from across the world to the R&D Management Conference 2026, hosted at The University of Manchester from 22–24 June.
Returning to its birthplace for the first time in 13 years, the conference marked a significant milestone for the global R&D Management community, bringing together leading academics, industry practitioners and policymakers working across research, technology and innovation.
Supporting the next generation of researchers
Ahead of the main conference, MIoIR also hosted the R&D Management Doctoral Colloquium on 20–21 June, bringing together around 30 PhD students from across the global research community.
The colloquium provided an opportunity for doctoral researchers to engage with leading scholars, gain insight into academic careers, and receive feedback on their work, while building connections with peers. Funded by RADMA, the programme was offered free of charge to all selected participants.
A global forum on creativity and resilience
Organised around the theme “Creativity and Resilience in an Era of Technological Disruption”, the conference explored how organisations, systems and societies are responding to rapid technological change.
Across three days, delegates participated in plenary sessions, parallel research tracks, panel discussions and workshops, alongside a vibrant programme of networking and social events.
The programme opened with institutional welcomes, including remarks from Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, and Professor Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, alongside senior leaders from the University.
International expertise and thought leadership
The conference featured keynote contributions from internationally recognised scholars and industry leaders, including Professor Tim Minshall (University of Cambridge), Professor Eva Niesten (SKEMA Business School), Professor Annabelle Gawer (University of Surrey), Professor Linus Dahlander (ESMT Berlin), Dr Peter Gallagher (former global R&D leader at Unilever) and Gemma Gratton (Manchester Fashion Week).
Their plenary sessions explored topics ranging from the links between R&D and manufacturing and climate resilience, to digital platforms, networks and the role of creativity in shaping future industries.
Manchester at the heart of innovation
Hosting the conference in Manchester provided a fitting setting for discussions on innovation and transformation. As the birthplace of the R&D Management Conference and widely recognised as the world’s first industrial city, Manchester offered a powerful setting, reflecting both its historic role in industrial transformation and its continued reinvention through digital, health and advanced manufacturing innovation.
The organisers also sought to embed a distinctive Manchester character throughout the conference, bringing local voices and experiences into the programme alongside international keynote speakers. Delegates were given opportunities to engage directly with the city’s innovation ecosystem, including visits to the University’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Data Visualisation Observatory.
Events took place across key University venues, including the Nancy Rothwell Building, with social highlights such as the conference dinner at Victoria Warehouse showcasing Manchester’s distinctive blend of industrial heritage and contemporary innovation.
Bringing together the global innovation community
Professor Silvia Massini, Conference Chair, said:
‘;