What happens when some of Sheffield’s most exciting technology and innovation spaces open their doors to the public?

You can find out on Tuesday 20 October, when the inaugural Open Doors Innovation Festival comes to the Sheffield Innovation Spine, giving everyone the chance to step inside the buildings, labs and workspaces where some of the region’s most exciting ideas are taking shape.

Open Doors is part of the Northern Tech Summit Fringe programme, with Sheffield Innovation Spine acting as the official fringe partner for the Summit.

Think of it as an open studios event for science, technology and entrepreneurship: a chance to meet the people behind the ideas, see technology in action and discover what is being developed right here in Sheffield.

Open Doors is free, open to everyone and runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with seven innovation venues taking part across the city centre.

Download the Open Doors app and explore Sheffield’s innovation trail

The best way to experience this event is through the new Open Doors app.

The app acts as your digital guide to the festival, helping you navigate the interactive route between venues while unlocking stories, content and experiences along the way.

As you explore, you can tap in at venue checkpoints, collect points, unlock hidden content and compete on the festival leaderboard.

There’s also a prize to play for…

Win £100 in Sheffield City Centre vouchers

Leaderboard participants will be entered into a prize draw, with one lucky Open Doors festival-goer winning £100 in vouchers to spend at Sheffield city-centre hospitality venues and retail stores.

So, if you’re planning to explore the festival, download the app before you arrive and get ready to take on the trail.

Discover Innovation at Sheffield Technology Parks

We’re extremely excited to be a part of the route, opening our doors to the scientists, entrepreneurs, researchers and tech companies working on solutions for real-world problems.

During the festival, visitors will be able to get a glimpse behind the scenes and experience some of the technology and innovation taking place inside the building.

In the demo space, you can see and try out groundbreaking technology from startups including an indie games studio and an app designed to help remote workers find places to work, and build community.

You can also explore labs housing early-stage BioTech companies, including businesses developing sustainable solutions for the beauty industry, as well as a startup with an ambition to digitally map every tree on the planet.

It’s a snapshot of the breadth of innovation taking place under one roof - from BioTech and quantum computing, to cross-platform gaming, EdTech products and hyperspectral imaging.

Explore the Sheffield’s Innovation Spine and seven Open Doors venues

Sheffield Technology Parks is just one stop on a city-centre trail packed with opportunities to explore.

At Sheffield Hallam University, visitors can step inside the 360-degree ‘Igloo’ immersive environment, experience place-inspired films and see the 144-camera photogrammetry suite used to create 3D models for gaming, fashion and biomechanics.

At Electric Works, you can meet local technology entrepreneurs and business advisers - and, if you’re feeling brave, experience the venue’s famous three-storey helter-skelter slide.

At the Royal Academy of Engineering’s UKSE Innovation Centre, visitors can meet Dr Rachel Smith, Senior Enterprise Manager, and discover how national engineering networks are helping local innovators build global, green and growing businesses.

At the University of Sheffield, you can explore the Emerge Startup Studio product showcase, visit the Siemens Digital Innovation Zone ‘living lab’ and help test next-generation products emerging from the university.

And at Pennine Five, visitors can tour deep-tech labs, see live product demonstrations from scale-ups including Exciting Instruments and FourJaw, record a Vox Pop in the podcast studio and take in panoramic views of the city.

Across the trail, you’ll meet scientists, student entrepreneurs, technical experts and deep-tech founders working on real-world challenges and get a glimpse of the people and ideas helping shape Sheffield’s future.

Open Doors is free and open to everyone

You don’t need to be a technology expert or working in the sector, and you certainly don’t need to know exactly what you’re looking for. Curiosity is all you need!

Open Doors is free, accessible and open to everyone on Tuesday 20 October, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Download the app and discover what’s behind the Open Doors

Download the Open Doors app, explore the trail, see what’s happening at Sheffield Technology Parks and across the wider Sheffield Innovation Spine - then come and see for yourself what’s through the Open Doors.

Visit sheffieldinnovationspine.com/open-doors or search for “Open Doors Sheffield” in your app store.