University of Leicester opens state of the art Innovation Lab with global vision for sustainability

The University of Leicester, in partnership with CGI, has launched a new Sustainability Innovation Lab.

Located on the University’s main campus, the lab provides space for students and research professors to conduct and showcase their own research projects, attend seminars and workshops, and collaborate on sustainability projects.

Research areas will include climate mitigation and adaptation solutions, natural capital accounting solutions, chemicals and waste reduction solutions, and supply chain sustainability. New research and technologies will help spur low-carbon solutions and innovations and support the creation of new low-carbon business models.

The Lab opened with a special launch event held at the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, and was attended by Tara McGeehan, President CGI UK & Australia, and Professor Henrietta O’Connor, the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Professor Henrietta O’Connor, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester said: “The route to a sustainable future depends upon harnessing the power of technology and innovation to provide the insight and solutions we need, through big data, earth observation science, and beyond. The new Sustainability Innovation Lab cements our growing partnership with CGI and, together with the growing portfolio of Space Park Leicester, shows a continued commitment to bringing industry and academia together to find those solutions.”

The opening coincided with the unveiling of a bespoke piece of artwork which was commissioned by CGI for display at COP27 and is now installed at Space Park Leicester. Designed by artist Luke Jerram, Gaia is a globe which is an overview of the planet from the perspective of outer space and has its surface illustrated with earth observation imagery.

Together, the two developments represent the growing collaboration between CGI, the University, and their partners, which is powering data-driven insight to help monitor and protect the environment.