InterAct Network leaves lasting legacy of human insight for UK manufacturing

InterAct Network members gathered at Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough.

After five years of pioneering research, collaboration and knowledge exchange, the Loughborough Business School-linked InterAct Network has officially concluded, leaving behind a significant legacy of human insight-focused research that will continue to support the future of UK manufacturing.

Launched in November 2021 as part of UKRI's £147 million Made Smarter Innovation programme, InterAct brought together economic and social scientists, manufacturers, policymakers and technology providers to address the human dimensions of industrial digital transformation.

Envisioned by Co-directors, Professor Jillian MacBryde (Strathclyde University) and Professor Jan Godsell (Loughborough University), InterAct aimed to ensure that people remained a central consideration in the process of technological innovation and adoption across the manufacturing sector.

In 2023, InterAct received additional funding to expand the scope of this research internationally. Recognising that manufacturing is part of a global ecosystem, InterAct researchers engaged in fact-finding missions to Singapore, India, Australia and Malaysia to exchange knowledge and explore best practice in digital transformation. The visits examined strengths ranging from Singapore's advanced manufacturing ecosystem and India's growing electric vehicle sector to Australia's clean energy manufacturing capabilities and Malaysia's expanding aerospace industry. The findings of these visits were explored fully in the InterAct Global Report.

The Network's original funding period was further extended by an additional year in 2025, enabling the team to expand and accelerate its impact, providing UK-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with the stepping stones to IDT adoption, enabling short-term energy and resource efficiency benefits.

Building an enduring manufacturing community

From the outset of InterAct, the project aimed to create a shared space where those confronting today's manufacturing challenges could connect with those developing tomorrow's solutions. By encouraging collaboration across disciplines, sectors and institutions, the Network helped stakeholders develop a common language around digital transformation and industrial innovation.

Over the course of the project, InterAct built a community of more than 700 members and supported 58 funded research projects, generating evidence and insights to help manufacturers navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by industrial digital technologies.

The Network also distributed £1.6 million in research funding through its commissioned research programme, supporting projects spanning the themes of productivity, sustainability, resilience and people-focused across UK manufacturing.

Building a legacy of accessible knowledge exchange

A key part of InterAct's legacy is the launch of its new interactive online hub, which brings together the collective learning generated through its research portfolio.

The website will remain freely accessible, providing manufacturers, researchers, policymakers and technology providers with a lasting repository of resources, tools, case studies and research outputs. These materials can be reused and built upon, ensuring that the Network's impact continues long after the project's formal conclusion.

Through its work, InterAct demonstrated the importance of combining technological innovation with social and economic insight, helping organisations understand not only what technologies to adopt, but how to successfully implement them through people, processes and culture.

Where does InterAct go from here?

Although the InterAct Network has reached the end of its funded programme, its founding mission will continue through the work of its co-directors and partner institutions.

Professor Janet Godsell will continue to advance InterAct's people-centred approach to industrial transformation through Loughborough Business School and the UK SCALE Centre, the national hub for supply chain innovation, research and talent development based at Loughborough University. Meanwhile, Professor Jillian MacBryde will continue this work through Strathclyde Business School and ongoing research partnerships.

Reflecting on the Network's achievements, Professor Jan Godsell said: “I want to thank all of the researchers, manufacturers, technologists, organisations and institutions that contributed to InterAct’s success. The collaborative spirit that underpinned our Network remains central to its legacy. I encourage all our members to continue sharing knowledge, interacting, and driving forward a human-centric future for digitally enabled manufacturing.”

Visit the InterAct website