The AIMday story

AIMday was pioneered by Uppsala University (Sweden) in 2008, built around a simple but powerful idea: let organisations set the agenda by bringing their real-world challenges directly to academic experts.

What began in materials science quickly proved its value, creating meaningful dialogue between industry and academia and sparking new research, innovation, and collaboration.

Since its creation, AIMday has grown into a global format. Dozens of AIMday events have been delivered across multiple countries and continents, covering a wide range of topics—from health and life sciences to social sciences, policy, and innovation.

Universities around the world have adopted the model to help organisations explore complex challenges through focused, expert-led discussions.

This is the first AIMday to be hosted in Leeds, and the first to focus specifically on climate-related challenges. Building on a proven international format, AIMday Leeds brings together industry, policymakers, and academics to explore practical solutions to urgent climate issues.