Building on the research study “Levelling up, emissions down” and accompanying data dashboard commissioned by the 29-member group of Key Cities earlier this year, the Wrexham Symposium is an opportunity for the twelve universities in the Key Cities Innovation Network to explore with city leaders and stakeholders how they can work together to achieve net zero targets – both through innovative approaches and their own operations.
With keynote speakers including Innovate UK’s Director of Place and Levelling Up Dean Cook, the City of Southampton’s Chief Scientific Officer Professor AbuBakr Bahaj and Gloucester City Council Leader Cllr Richard Cook, the climate portfolio lead for Key Cities, participating universities will present case studies addressing not only their own agency and impact as significant economic actors and employers, but how universities collaborate and engage with other ‘place-based’ stakeholders to travel collectively towards a more sustainable society.
The event is open to representatives from the member universities in the Key Cities Innovation Network and from the 29 Key Cities themselves.
The symposium will open at 11 am with a welcome from Professor Maria Hinfelaar, the Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, and close at 4 pm, breaking for lunch from 1-1.45 pm.