91ÌÒÉ«

Introduction

This Lab of the Future Hackathon will have a physical prototyping element, with the ICB CDT providing each team with £500 of consumables, mentoring, workshops and access to prototyping equipment until it culminates in a face-to-face grand final at the end of November, where the winners will be chosen by an expert panel of judges. The grand final will be part of a day of panel discussions, showcase events and technology demonstrations from leading academics, global Industry partners and start-ups.

Teams will be challenged to develop novel tools and technologies employing industry 4.0 breakthroughs such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that will revolutionise the state-of-the-art within research labs leading to novel R&D workflows.

The prototypes developed during this competition have the potential to unlock rapid design-test cycles with the advances and biological insight generated being applicable to academia, industry and medicine, ultimately tackling societal challenges.

To find out further information about the challenge, please attend our Briefing Session on the 4th August, 10-10:30am in the MSRH G23/24.

The Challenge:

How might we transform labs to make research faster, smarter and more sustainable?

Teams will be challenged to develop novel tools and technologies employing industry 4.0 breakthroughs such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that have the potential to revolutionise the state of the art within research labs leading to novel R&D workflows.

Entrants may want to look at themes such as:

• Sustainable and green labs
• AI in innovation and Optimisation
• Connected Lab
• Training, transformation, workflow
• Automation and Autonomous Lab Networks

Over the next 4 months, the ICB CDT will provide funding, 1:1 mentoring, bespoke training, access to the Hackspace and our network to support your ideation and to convert your ideas into impactful solutions.

At the Grand Final on the 25^th November, teams will showcase their prototypes to a panel of experts with the potential to win up to £3000 cash prize.

Key Dates:

7^th August Registration Deadline

12^th August Training: Ideation and Teambuilding

27^th August 3-5pm Training: Efficient Prototyping

23^rd September Training: Effective Pitching

25^th November Grand Final

Besides this, you will receive 1:1 mentorship sessions, industry speakers and supplementary learning workshops. We expect at least one member of your team to be present at each of the training sessions. 

You do not need to have an idea at this stage, or a team! We will have sessions and training to help support you develop an idea and build a team. Any 91ÌÒÉ« MRes, PhD or PDRA may enter but each team must have at least one member from the ICB CDT - if you don't know anyone from the ICB CDT please still express your interest.

Please fill out this very short to express your interest and take part in the training, the deadline to register is the 7th August.

Feel free to email icbadmin@ic.ac.uk if you have any further questions.