The Future Towns Innovation Hub (FTIH) is a University of Southampton-led centre dedicated to creating happier, healthier and more prosperous places.
Based at the Engineering Centre on Southampton Science Park, we offer both physical collaboration spaces within the building and via this online collaboration platform. Together, these environments bring people, expertise and ideas together to accelerate place-based innovation.
As part of one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, the Future Towns Innovation Hub connects world-class academic insight with real-world challenges faced by communities, local authorities and industry partners. Our mission is simple: to turn pioneering research into practical solutions that help places thrive.
What we do
Research
FTIH helps projects unlock the University’s expertise in engineering, environmental science, sustainability and civic engagement. Our specialist labs also support water and river studies, energy systems, advanced testing and uncrewed aerial systems.
Collaboration
Our open plan building offers a creative environment for workshops, events and co-design. On-site and online, we connect people and partners to explore challenges, test ideas and develop solutions.
Love Your Place
Our Love Your Place programme uses design thinking to help you turn problems or ideas into practical solutions. It focuses on the issues that matter to you or your community, and guides you to explore options, co-design solutions and test them in real-life situations.
Partnerships & mentoring
We work closely with our partners, connecting people across industry and innovation to help projects grow. We also run a mentoring programme that links industry professionals with University students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Our commitment
The Future Towns Innovation Hub is where academic excellence meets civic ambition, working together to build sustainable, resilient and flourishing places.
By helping organisations access the best thinking, technology and expertise available, we provide a guided and inclusive process that makes innovation easier to navigate, and turns ideas into real benefits for towns and communities.
For enquiries, please contact: