CGI and the University of Leicester open innovation lab

Global IT and business consultancy CGI has launched a new sustainability innovation lab in partnership with the University of Leicester. The facility will provide an environment for the advisory firm to collaborate with university professionals and students, and work to develop technology which could accelerate the UK’s net zero transition.

Building on its strong position in the UK’s technology and space markets, CGI also announced another new initiative in partnership with the University of Leicester. As well as the opening of a new innovation hub, it has founded a new research scheme: Sustainability Exploration and Environmental Data Science (SEEDS).

SEEDS research areas will include climate mitigation and adaptation solutions, natural capital accounting solutions, chemicals and waste reduction solutions, and supply chain sustainability. Research and technologies produced through these SEEDS partnerships will help spur low-carbon solutions and innovations and support the creation of new low-carbon business models.

All this will take place in the new Sustainability Innovation Lab, located on the University of Leicester’s main campus. As well as opening up routes for collaboration between students, academics and CGI professionals, the facility will also provide space for students and research professors to conduct and showcase their own research projects, attend seminars and workshops, and collaborate on sustainability projects. 

Together, the two developments represent the growing collaboration between CGI, the University, and their partners, which is powering data-driven insight to help monitor and protect the environment. Demonstrating this, the new hub opened with a special launch event held at the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, attended by Tara McGeehan, President CGI UK & Australia, and Professor Henrietta O'Connor, the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University.

O’Connor said, “The route to a sustainable future depends upon harnessing the power of technology and innovation to provide the insight and solutions we need, through big data, earth observation science, and beyond. The new Sustainability Innovation Lab cements our growing partnership with CGI and, together with the growing portfolio of Space Park Leicester, shows a continued commitment to bringing industry and academia together to find those solutions.”

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 91,500 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers capabilities from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions – generating revenues of over $12.8 billion in its most recent financial year.

“This partnership between CGI and the University of Leicester gives us the opportunity to demonstrate some of the exciting projects we have been working on regarding SEEDS. The space will be used for seminars, workshops, and continuing our work with clients on sustainability solutions,” added McGeehan. “Through this initiative, we aim to drive positive change, encourage environmental innovation, and inspire future leaders in sustainability.”