By Steve Lane, Operations Director
When we moved into our new facility in Stockport, England, in 2024, we saw an opportunity to do more than expand our operations. We wanted to create stronger connections with the universities, researchers, and future innovators shaping the next generation of technology and business leadership.
As a graduate of The University of Manchester and one of the leaders involved in developing the Stockport site, I have long believed that industry and academia are natural partners. Universities drive discovery, research, and learning. Companies transform ideas into products and solutions that address real-world challenges. When those worlds come together, innovation accelerates.
That belief led to a formal partnership with The University of Manchester through a memorandum of understanding focused on long-term collaboration. Together, we are exploring opportunities in research, teaching, talent development, student placements, and access to leading analytical facilities.
Recently, that partnership took an important step forward when Manchester Business School, part of The University of Manchester, hosted attendees from the Association of International Business annual conference. As part of the event, a group of academics and international business leaders visited our Stockport facility to gain a firsthand look at how innovation moves from concept to commercial reality.
The visit included tours of our manufacturing and cleanroom environments, demonstrations of our laser and photonics technologies, and discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing technology companies in a rapidly evolving global market.
One of the most valuable aspects of the visit was the dialogue that followed. During an interactive question-and-answer session, participants explored topics ranging from global growth and organizational strategy to innovation, talent development, and navigating geopolitical uncertainty. Those conversations created a meaningful exchange of perspectives between academic researchers and business leaders working on the front lines of innovation.
The discussions also highlighted future opportunities for collaboration, including student projects, placements, executive learning initiatives, and joint research activities. These are the types of partnerships that create value for everyone involved. Students gain exposure to real-world challenges as researchers strengthen connections to industry and companies benefit from fresh perspectives and emerging talent.
The visit also showcased what our Stockport facility was designed to be: more than a manufacturing site. Alongside its advanced capabilities, it serves as a place where employees, customers, partners, researchers, and students can come together to share ideas and explore new possibilities.
For me, the greatest value of these relationships lies in their long-term potential. Innovation rarely happens in isolation. It grows when people with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise work together toward a common goal.
Whether through student placements, MBA projects, research collaborations, or future learning opportunities, we are building relationships that strengthen both talent development and the broader innovation ecosystem.
The visit lasted only a few hours, yet it felt like the beginning of something much larger. By bringing together academia and industry, we create opportunities to learn from one another, solve complex challenges, and help shape the future together.
That, to me, is innovation at its best.