Innovation for Extremes 2012 a great success
Published 30 April 2012
The 10th annual Innovation for Extremes conference : The Innovation Journey Continues was organised by Mike Parsons and Mary Rose (both of IEED) 18th-19th April 2012. This series of conferences originally linked to the Mallory Everest 1924 Replica project. It has become the annual conference for innovation and sustainability for all mountain, outdoor and adventure sports. innov_ex is an exciting event to help you stay up to date with innovation and sustainability issues affecting the outdoor industry. The conference is sponsored by Pertex and has the support of The Textile Institute.
Delegates need open and focused minds to make the most of the innov_ex programme which offers information and inspiration plus, most important, the exchange of views and experience. The conference is not about delivering solutions in a ‘Ten top tips’ style but is about provoking thought and promoting dialogue to meet the challenges of evolving systems, technologies, markets and demographics.... The prize has steadily gained prestige over the years with finalists and winners going on to develop products and careers in the outdoor industries.(Outdoori April 2012)
(innov_ex) is acknowledged as creating the most high-level discussions associated with the leading edge of product developments, especially those associated with outdoor clothing manufacturing & communications.(Outdoorsmagic 20 April 2012)
Attracting delegates from across the outdoor industry, the conference has built a strong reputation for bringing together universities and business. Its outward facing agenda is designed to challenge and inspire and open up debates, questions and dialogues. This year topics ranged from cycling innovation, wearable technologies, the changing nature of user feedback, social media apps and the outdoors, to sustainability in the supply chain, re-use and recycling, the sustainable clothing action plan and sustainable design.
It usually takes several weeks to digest the learning experience of innov_ex and, perhaps, many months at least to integrate theory into practice, but the practical benefits last for years... it was no surprise that innovative Pertex sponsored innov_ex.(Outdoori April 2012)
- innov_ex kept delegates up to date with the challenges facing the sector revealed vividly by Mark Held Secretary General of the European Outdoor Group who highlighted innovation, whether, product, process, supply chain or marketing as a key route forward.
- The innov_ex Innovation Design Prize, was this year won by Jenni Campbell, a graduate of University of Strathclyde, with CleatFeet which adapts running footwear to pedalling mode for adventure racers.The prize is open to students and new independent designers provides a strong recruiting ground for outdoor companies looking for exceptional designers, while many winners have gone on to commercialise their designs.
- innov_ex 12 was again live web streamed by a team from ISS and this, combined with a highly successful Twitter feed, brought dialogue into the conference from virtual delegates and increased the visibility and reach of the conference discussions and feedback.
Mike Parsons and Mary Rose April 2012
