Harnessing the Power of Joint Effort to Enhance Collaborative Innovation

In innovation, collaboration is the new ‘competition’. The way in which challenges are faced and opportunities are taken; in which businesses grow, sectors grow and, ultimately, economies grow through the real synergy of ‘joint effort’. But finding the right collaborative partners at the right time is difficult, so creating the right place in which to do so was essential.

JointEffort.io was developed by co-founders, Rob Hankin and David Brookes. Rob’s experience in management roles across military, energy and nuclear decommissioning informed his research at Durham University, focusing on the collaboration challenges facing engineering and technology SMEs across twenty-eight countries and multiple industries. David’s expertise is as a systems developer with a twenty-year track record of designing and delivering software for companies from start-ups to multinationals across the financial services, energy, environmental and nuclear industries.

Outcomes from the research had identified consistent barriers to collaboration impacting innovation, both for organisations and for regional and industry-based clusters, in the difficulty and inefficiency of finding expertise needed; and, for the specialists, in the cost of being visible to those seeking their expertise. For the latter it means that viable products and services can be overlooked despite demand, but overall that chains and networks remain relatively static, homogenous and siloed within areas and industries. A solution was required to ensure that not only are the portfolios of organisations, both seeking and potentially supplying, easily accessible but that the information provided on prior experience and current capabilities is presented in appropriate formats to expedite this process. And so became the inspiration for JointEffort.io.

A software platform where those specialist engineering and technology organisations can connect and collaborate, it further utilises AI to understand the requirements of those looking for partners and recommend individual or groups of organisations that best align with those requirements. It is based on core networking theory, but utilising technology to provide scope for connection with partners outside of the locale to develop networks far beyond those that happen, for example through events, or through primary and secondary connections via social media. Diversity on the platform also offers the potential for collaboration across industries, and so harnessing the significant potential for not just cross-sector interaction but for innovation, both with regard to shorter-term problem-solving needs and longer-term development imperatives of supply chains and more formal partnerships.

By creating profiles detailing experience and capabilities, alongside in-depth case studies showcasing projects, contracts and R&D activities – including collaborations – JointEffort.io also helps organisations, large and small, to really understand and effectively communicate their own expertise. This begins within the platform’s open ‘marketplace’, where all users can search for providers and partners, but can also be shared within specific groups where eco-systems and clusters naturally develop, for example on specific megaprojects, within an accelerator cohort or for a focused research stream. Further case studies can then ultimately be created from the work undertaken in groups, continuously adding to the cumulative assets of the wider community.

For sectors such as rail, where challenges and opportunities are on a broad spectrum from the need to solve an immediate issue to a generational mission to innovate, having solutions on hand and potential connections in ‘one room’, along with search and recommendation functions to find them, is ideal. As such, the JointEffort.io team have been working with BCIMO as part of the Clean Futures project to offer not only a platform for SMEs to showcase their innovations within the marketplace, but in developing an exclusive group space, which will complement the valuable work currently undertaken within the Commercial Investment Hub to accelerate the commercialisation of high TRL innovation within the industry in a virtual format.

In essence, this will allow the connections made with industry and investment partners via the periodic on-site forum at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley to continue ‘out of hours’, with each SME’s profile on JointEffort.io reflecting their work on the programme, alongside potential industry contracts and investment opportunities for all to access. The online aspect will also accommodate the logistical needs of those partners who operate outside of the region, and potential partners who felt unable to participate due to the in-person format to date. Whilst this will be developed over the coming year, all current partners will have the opportunity to engage in the open-access marketplace as part of the Clean Futures research project.

In recognition of its work to date, JointEffort.io was recently awarded a place on the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Regional Talent Engine Accelerator scheme, and two InnovateUK grants, building specifically upon their AI development work to date. “Boosting Clusters: AI for community building, opportunity and innovation” focuses on developing AI to improve understanding and opportunities across clusters, addressing current barriers to collaboration and innovation; supporting cluster development, and providing a clear overview of regional and sector capabilities. “Enhancing engineering innovation with AI” is a project delivered in collaboration with Durham University, developing AI tools to analyse technical requirements and recommend best-fit organisations based on their capabilities and experience; improving collaboration efficiency, and supporting technology transfer and innovation.

Co-founder, Rob Hankin, summarising the role of JointEffort.io, said:

“It’s difficult and time-consuming for organisations to find the expertise they need. It’s also costly to be visible to others. The most relevant organisations can be overlooked and miss out on opportunities. This leads to limited networks and siloing, which impacts diversity and innovation. JointEffort.io tackles these challenges.”

Clean Futures programme lead, Naomi Arblaster, said:

“The Hub represents a bold step towards accelerating high-TRL solutions and fast-tracking innovations to market. By overcoming the barriers that slow down progress, we’re shaping a future where sustainable technologies thrive. Success will be measured not just by investments and contracts secured, but by the ripple effects on the innovation cycle and the scalable potential for future industry adoption.

Working with JointEffort.io allows us to develop these new eco-systems, tapping into the significant potential for cross-sector innovation and collaboration, across the current boundaries and borders. It will allow us to extend the reach of the Hub through the engineering and technology sectors, and internationally, providing a space for all partners to explore and to connect.”

BCIMO is excited to pilot JointEffort.io’s ‘Innovation Marketplace’ as a key step toward developing a thriving innovation ecosystem over the next twelve months. If you’re interested in participating in this groundbreaking trial, you can Contact Us via our website or email Naomi Arblaster, Head of SME Development, directly.

For more information on BCIMO or the Clean Futures programme, please visit the BCIMO website or click Contact Us to make an enquiry / sign up to our mailing list.