About Us

Innovation through collaboration is the cornerstone of Aura’s work.

We take a strategic view of the low carbon sector, identifying opportunities where organisations, and particularly SMEs, can collaborate in order to find solutions to build their low-carbon capacity and work towards meeting net zero targets.

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Aura: Innovation through collaboration
Aura Innovation Centre: supporting business success
Our sister organisations
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Aura

We are here to support Humber businesses, giving them access to our cutting-edge facilities, specialist funded support and a space to innovate and collaborate.  It’s where you can connect with the research power at the University of Hull and industry experts to deliver innovation into your business and services to your customers.  That might be through partnership between industry and academia or developing an innovative material or device, a digital tool or service; it could be working in our collaborative space, AuraFleX, where like-minded businesses innovate and collaborate, driving down emissions and generating new ideas; or it might be putting on an event in a space like no other, or helping you to pursue your net zero journey. Through the Aura Innovation Centre we will support you to strengthen your place in the Humber’s growing renewable energy supply chain as it becomes the UK’s biggest decarbonisation opportunity, providing world-leading infrastructure and investment, alongside innovation and technology – whether in offshore wind, carbon capture, hydrogen, agriculture, services industry and other sectors.

Shaping the future of low carbon innovation

Led by the University of Hull, we’ve gone from strength to strength since our inception in 2015, with the Aura Innovation Centre helping businesses bring their low-carbon ideas to market, participating in large academic R&D programmes (for example the Prosperity Partnership in Offshore Wind, the ORE Supergen and Aura Centre for Doctoral Training providing funded PhD scholarships in offshore wind energy and the environment).  We also work with sister organisations such as the Flood Innovation Centre, SparkFund and Humber Internships Programme to help small businesses.

We engage with academia, industry, NGOs and national and local government to help deliver against our three main areas of activity.

AURA INNOVATION CENTRE: A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER

We accelerate, innovate and collaborate to support business success and drive green innovation.

As the Humber’s leading Net Zero centre, we’re a community that supports businesses of all sizes, helping them to bring their low-carbon projects to life.

We connect businesses to the research power of the University of Hull, taking your carbon-reducing ideas and linking you with expertise, equipment and funding to turn them into reality.

SECTORS

We can help you with green innovations across all sectors, including:

  • Reducing carbon emissions
  • Saving on energy costs
  • Increasing efficiency and productivity
  • Accessing new markets and feasibility studies
  • Digitisation
  • Prototyping, testing and initial manufacturing
  • New materials, additive manufacturing and product engineering
  • Waste, repurposing and recycling

OUR FACILITIES – DESIGNED WITH COLLABORATION IN MIND

Take a look at some of our case studies to see how we’ve already helped businesses in the Humber, then contact our Innovation Managers to find out if we can make your low-carbon dream a reality.

As well as helping businesses innovate, we also offer:

InventX

Flexible innovation space where you can try out ideas using cutting edge equipment.

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Events

Looking for an event space with a difference? We have seven versatile event spaces with the latest tech which can be hired, for small meetings, large conferences, or anything in between.

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Office Space

Whether hot desking, meeting room rental or collaborating with other businesses.

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ConneX

A digital event space for online collaboration and conferences.

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A POWERFUL CONSORTIUM WITH PURPOSE AND AIMS

We’re continuously identifying opportunities to innovate and collaborate in offshore wind and low-carbon energy across the UK. At Aura, we work together to turn innovative ideas into game-changing reality.

We’re working towards these aims:

Develop the first 'advanced' offshore wind cluster in the uk

Power a strong, talented and diverse future workforce

Retain the UK's leadership in the world for offshore wind and meet CO2 reduction targets

Deliver pioneering solutions and outstanding innovation

Empower the region’s people and places to net zero as hosts of The Waterline Summit

Brand Family

Aura Innovation Centre

The Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) brings green ideas to life, giving businesses easy access to cutting-edge facilities, specialist funded support and a space to innovate and collaborate.

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SparkFund

Funding to help Humber SMEs improve or develop exciting new products, services or processes.

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Flood Innovation Centre

Helping your business become more flood resilient, and supporting development of new products and services in flood resilience.

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HIP

Humber Internships Programme is an on-demand programme offering skills-matched degree-level talent for small-medium sized businesses for short-term or permanent hire.

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Ark

A partnership between the University of Hull and Humberside Fire & Rescue to deliver a purpose-built National Flood Resilience Centre.

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The Enterprise Centre

Supporting new businesses to enhance enterprise skills and inspire business start ups.

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Lampada

A team of experienced professionals leading the way in digital solutions.

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Energy and Environment Institute

Bringing together leading interdisciplinary academics to tackle global issues surrounding climate change.

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