= LhARA 4-nation initiative meeting 23Oct26; 11:00 and 15:00 BST =

**Present:** Over the two meetings: R.Amos, R.Bingham, M.Boyd, M.Charlton, R.Hugtenburg, A.Isaac, K.Long, C.Whyte 

== Notes ==

1. __Introduction:__ KL/All \\
 - Restarting discussion of 4-nation initiative for LhARA that was put on hold in the run-up to the local and devolved administration elections in May.
 - 4-nation initiative taken to encompass:
  - Approach to development and articulation of scientific, benefit and impact case for LhARA initiative;
  - LhARA initiative to be taken in its broadest sense; most likely areas for co-creation with industrial partners likely to be relatively high TRL, delivering incremental benefit;
  - Identification of regional/local stakeholders with which to develop impact, business and benefit cases.  We need to identify areas in which the strength of the collaboration is a benefit to the engagement between institutes and local stakeholders;
  - Ideally seek resource through co-working/co-creation with local stakeholders to the benefit of LhARA institutes and local organisations and local economy.

 With thanks for RB who reminded me of specification presented/discussed in the LhARA fortnightly on 28Jul26.  Relevant slide linked [raw-attachment:Slide-5-from-28Jul26-fortnightly.pdf here]

2. __Discussion:__ All \\
 Broad discussion, hard to summarise here.  Key points:
 - Overall positive response to concept of developing the 4-nation initiative along the lines drafted above.  Some scepticism about benefits and the possible rewards for the amount of work that will have to be invested.
 - Reminder of ambition to work towards a meeting in each of the 4-nations over the course of a year.  Discussion (afternoon meeting) of the issue of whether to consider a whole-of-island approach to Ireland and Northern Ireland; preference of those in discussion for "whole of island" approach. (**KL** discuss via email with MB).
 - Need to understand mechanisms to engage with local and devolved governments.
 - Possible benefit of seeking to engage with Advanced Manufacturing Research Centres as hubs for engagement with other industrial partners.
 - **Agreed** to reserve a session at the collaboration meeting to brainstorm on possible co-creation opportunities.
 - **Agreed** to continue to work towards meeting in each of the 4 nations; discussed "academic" meeting to make the case, engage stakeholders and potentially in parallel or separately to reach out to potential industrial, not-for-profit or other partners.

3. __Next steps:__ All \\
 We agreed to the following actions:
 * **KL:** Contact MB re "whole island" approach.
 * **All:** Review local opportunities, mechanisms to secure resource, and areas where collaboration is a strength in developing local networks;
 * **All:** Consider steps towards proposed meeting series.

4. __DONM:__ \\
 To be agreed via poll (Action **KL**)

5. __AoB:__ \\
 Noted above.

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{{{#!comment
  Items to return to:
    __Planning of contribution to Frontiers in Science:__
    __CDR preparation:__
     - Discussion of title
 - Outreach Group met and have developed a 6-month plan which is being updated.  Planning round of shout-outs to institutes and flagging progress.  Planning to start with Strathclyde and success of SCAPA. 
 - RB: has proposed LhARA paper for PPCF IoP Journal; has been accepted.  We noted the invitation for a special issue that we had accepted.  Agreed that **KL and RB** would meet to discuss how to take these opportunities forward next week.
 - Applications to be considered after break:
  - RS Summer Exhibition
  - MCSA DN
  - KTP/CASE application
}}}