What does it really take to unlock innovation in the UK? ⚙️
In our latest episode of Innovation Unlocked, ‘The Maker Mindset: How the UK is Scaling Hardware through Community’, we are joined by Mat Hunter (Co-Founder of Plus X Innovation) and Michael Korn (Founder of BLUE GARAGE).
Drawing from their own experiences within the UK’s hardware ecosystem, we explore what early-stage founders truly need to succeed, highlighting aspects such as access to infrastructure, support systems and community.
We also examine the importance of place-based innovation, and how physical spaces can help businesses at different stages of their development collaborate and learn from each other.
This episode encourages us to rethink how we can create a more sustainable hardware sector by nurturing talent and creating environments where bold ideas can become a reality.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify here.
Visit the BLUE GARAGE website here to find more about their upcoming event, ‘Scaling Hardware Innovation Companies’ on May 14.
Episode summary
Topics discussed🎙️
- Innovation hubs for hardware and manufacturing startups in the UK.
- Place-based innovation and regional economic development.
- Commercialising UK talent in design, engineering, and science.
- Community as a core innovation driver.
- Government, councils, and institutional support.
- Next-generation manufacturing and sustainable materials.
- Industry Unlocked initiative.
Key takeaways💡
- Physical spaces matter: Innovation in hardware and manufacturing requires workshops, machinery, and real-world production environments, not just laptops and office desks.
- The UK has untapped potential: Britain’s strong education and heritage in engineering/design can produce more globally competitive startups if infrastructure gaps are addressed.
- Community accelerates innovation: Shared spaces reduce founder isolation, improve knowledge transfer, and create stronger entrepreneurial cultures.
- Regional hubs can rebalance the economy: Building local innovation clusters can support jobs, reduce overreliance on London, and strengthen national manufacturing resilience.
- Support systems must evolve: Investors, governments, universities, and councils need to collaborate more effectively to de-risk early-stage manufacturing ventures.
- Sustainability is a major frontier: Biomaterials and climate-conscious product innovation are becoming key growth sectors for UK founders.
- Accessibility is crucial: Lowering barriers for young founders, graduates, and diverse communities could unlock significant entrepreneurial capacity.
Notable quotes🔊
- “You’ve got this amazing talent stream in the UK as well… why on earth are we not making the most of that national asset?”
- “By having the right culture, the right supportive environment, it really doesn’t cost a lot, but it’s invaluable. And it can only be done if it’s done by people who really get it, believe in it, and they’ve been there.”
- “People really came in because these small businesses needed a sense of psychological support … they really needed to work together and to collaborate, to pivot their businesses.”
- “Everything around us is manufactured, and somebody is deciding what materials to use. All of the big challenges that we’re facing are not going to be solved without that.”
- “There is a new generation of makers, a new generation of consumers that want to buy locally, that want to have things made in the right way.”
