Sandpit / Ideas Lab

With the goal of inspiring more innovative and multi-disciplinary research proposals, the Sandpit was conceived by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in 2003. Knowinnovation helped with the early design, and we’ve been privileged to facilitate about 20 of these workshops, known for being extremely intense, interactive and demanding. I say privileged because it’s an amazing thing to witness what happens at a Sandpit: a group of highly intelligent people with academic and industry expertise come together around a serious topic to redefine the challenge and generate novel ideas to address it.

Read more about Sandpits and Ideas Labs here.

Jumpstart

This compressed, mini-Sandpit follows the same process as a Sandpit except the process usually starts before the event often with online introductions and networking, and continues after the event with groups working together to refine and add substance to their proposals and ideas. Interestingly this provides an opportunity that’s not necessarily part of a traditional Sandpit: the chance to invite and involve new people who haven’t attended the event to participate in the emerging projects. In that way, the Jumpstart has a wider reach and perhaps is even more inclusive.