About the Institute for Futures Development
Bringing together businesses and brilliant minds to solve today's most pressing challenges in engineering, technology, and medicine.
Who We Are
At the Institute for Futures Development (IFD), we bring together businesses and brilliant minds to solve today's most pressing challenges. In an increasingly complex world, where innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity, IFD provides a platform for collaboration, turning real-world challenges into actionable solutions.
The IFD central leadership team has decades of experience in industry innovation, education and wider academic models, governance of learning institutions and action learning in problem solving.
By creating collaboration between Higher Education and industry, students can learn quicker for the future and collaborate with industry on real time solutions to enable progress. Industry gets better solutions. Students learn quicker. Everyone wins and society benefits.
What We Do
We address critical challenges in engineering, technology, and medicine
Connecting Experts
We pair businesses with top-tier academic and industry specialists to address their unique challenges.
Real-Time Collaboration
Our projects are rooted in live, action-based learning that combines interdisciplinary research with hands-on problem-solving.
Tangible Impact
Through focused initiatives, we ensure that every project leads to practical, scalable solutions that benefit both the participating business and the broader community.
Practical Application
We prioritise 'what works' over theoretical concepts, ensuring real-world results through a proven, cost-effective methodology.
Our Leadership Team
Experienced professionals dedicated to transforming industry-academia collaboration

Dr. Michael Harrison
CEO & Founder

Sarah Chen
Head of Partnerships

James Wilson
Head of Technology

Dr. Emily Foster
Academic Director
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