IDEAS to impact: Business growth through AI innovation and leadership

The Institute for Digital Engineering and Autonomous Systems (IDEAS) unites world-class research in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Systems, Robotics and Data Analytics with industry.

Digital Innovation Facility (DIF)

A purpose-built hub for business collaboration and innovation, DIF houses advanced laboratories in Robotics, Mixed Reality, Extreme Environments, Data Analytics, Visualisation, Simulation and Digital Engineering. Supported through a £12.7 million investment co-funded by the Local Growth Fund and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, DIF drives innovation and accelerates real-world impact across multiple sectors.

VEC: Where research meets reality

Located within DIF, the VEC transforms research into real-world solutions. Using digital twins, virtual prototyping, high-performance computing, and advanced simulation, the VEC helps organisations across manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, energy, and FMCG to improve service quality, reduce costs, and accelerate time to market.

What makes IDEAS different?

• Multidisciplinary expertise
  A national leader in combining virtual engineering, digital design, autonomous systems, and AI, supported by hands-on exploratory labs.

• Connected research network
  Embedded within the University, with access to worldclass academics and strategic partnerships.

• Innovation-led approach
  Enables rapid experimentation, prototyping, and deployment through multi-user laboratories.

• Comprehensive support
  Offers end-to-end solutions, from digital transformation and product development to implementation.

 

A Decade of driving regional growth

VEC has partnered with hundreds of businesses across the Northwest (NW). Helping them adopt emerging technologies, develop innovative products, and scale sustainable solutions. This has delivered growth, created jobs and contributed hundreds of millions to the local economy.

• LCR4.0 (2016–2022)
  An ERDF initiative that boosted the LCR manufacturing sector by helping SMEs adopt Industry 4.0 technologies. It supported 300+ businesses and enabled 57 new products.
• Nuclear Virtual Engineering Capability (2020)
  N-VEC cemented the UK’s position as a leader in digital twin and virtual engineering for the nuclear sector. Working with Jacobs, EDF Energy, Rolls-Royce, National Nuclear Laboratory, and Nuclear AMRC, N-VEC demonstrated how to improve efficiency, enable supply chain collaboration, and develop sustainable growth.
• National Centre for Digital Heritage Research (2023)
  Based at the VEC’s Sci-Tech Daresbury hub, the centre positions Liverpool as a leader in digital heritage research and conservation. It fosters a collaborative ecosystem for preserving cultural assets.
• Horizons Programme (2023 -present)
  VEC, in partnership with LJMU and Edge Hill, was appointed by LCRCA to lead, design and deliver a radical new programme for growth and productivity focused on R&D and Innovation. Funded by UKSPF, Horizons is supporting 146+ SMEs through a combination of technical R&D support and the award of over 50 capital investments.
• Novel (2025)
  Launched in partnership with LCRCA, Novel represents a radical new approach to regional growth, fusing leadership, venture building and living labs. In January 2025, it convened business owners, MDs, and CEOs from leading regional companies alongside national and local government directors to co-design a new model for innovation support, commercialisation and growth.

 

VEC is the engine driving digital transformation across the region - helping companies innovate faster, smarter, and more safely.

SceneGraph Studios, supported by VEC