
Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC)
The UK’s original Digital Engineering Impact Centre, the VEC helps organisations large and small to harness emerging technology, identify untapped opportunities, foster innovation and drive growth.
With locations at Sci-tech Daresbury and in the heart of the University of Liverpool campus, VEC offers expertise to explore the adoption of digital technologies to solve complex industry problems in a safe and friendly environment.

Materials Innovation Factory (MIF)
Home to one of the highest-concentrations of materials science robotics in the world, MIF has the facilities to flexibly scale R&D activity in an environment that’s purpose-built for materials innovation.
A collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Unilever, MIF allows businesses involved in materials chemistry to accelerate product development and gain competitive advantage through smarter, faster and more precise ways of working.

Digital Innovation Facility (DIF)
A £12.7million investment co-funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Growth Fund*, this new facility will open in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter in 2021 providing a new home for world-leading academic research dedicated to maximising the possibilities of emerging technologies.
An environment that’s purpose-built for collaboration, DIF will include a range of state of the art lab spaces, providing new opportunities to assist our industry partners in developing meaningful research partnerships across multiple academic disciplines including robotics, AI and data analytics.
*The Local Growth Fund, is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.