pro² network+

Device prototyping and production summer school
2024-07-10 - 2024-07-12 | Lancaster University
Learn more about building refined and robust prototypes more quickly and easily!
We invite anyone interested in producing electronic device prototypes as part of their work to join our 3-day, hands-on summer school from the 10th to 12th of July 2024 at Lancaster University.
⚙️ Ideal for anyone with an interest in low-volume digital device creation including makers, visionaries, and researchers from any discipline.
⚙️ Open to all levels of experience and all career stages – from student to established professional.
⚙️ Learn from global experts in electronic device production and access to state-of-the-art university labs.
⚙️ Up to thirty sponsored places available – free food and accommodation!
⚙️ Up to £4,000 in prizes available to help the most promising prototype ideas move towards production.
Led by Professors Steve Hodges and Joe Finney, hosted by Lancaster University’s Devices Lab, and supported by the EPSRC-funded pro² network+. The deadline to apply for this event closed on 24th May 2024. We are no longer accepting new applications.
Instructors

Steve Hodges is an internationally recognised leader in interactive and embedded device creation. He has built and deployed prototypes at all scales, and many of these have transitioned to volume production resulting in millions of devices in market globally.

Joe Finney is a global figure in empowering non-experts to innovate with technology, in particular helping them to learn about and build lightweight embedded systems. His work has also led to millions of embedded devices that are in daily use around the world.

Examples of devices made in the hundreds, thousands and millions that Steve and Joe have worked on include the Active Bat indoor location system, the SenseCam wearable camera, several IoT development boards and modules, the Microsoft Touch Mouse, i-String Lite outdoor lighting, Microsoft Adaptive Accessories, several Jacdac modules and kits, .NET Gadgeteer modules and kits, and the BBC micro:bit.

The micro:bit pocket-sized computer used by 66 million children worldwide as they learn to code.

A 5m hummingbird made of the i-String Lite artistic lighting system developed by Joe Finney and Alan Dix.

Additional Presenters
⚙️ John Hardy, Director at Hardy & Ellis Inventions LTD. (Keynote)
An engineer with a research background in shape-changing devices, John Hardy went on to co-found Hardy & Ellis Inventions in Manchester. H&E Inventions is best known for their innovative use of emerging technologies like augmented reality, which they’ve leveraged to create products that bring the digital into the physical to increase engagement, reduce waste, and drive productivity.
⚙️ Mandy (Man) Xiang, Director of Fusion Service at Seeed Studio. (Keynote)
Seeed Studio is a Shenzhen-based hardware platform with a mission to empower everyone to achieve their digital transformation goals. Mandy directs their ‘Fusion Service’ which provides clients with tailored support, from design and customization to production and promotion.
⚙️ Mike Fraser, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction and Head of the School of Computer Science at the University of Bristol. (Keynote)
In addition to his roles as Professor and Head of School at the University of Bristol, Mike is also the Chair of the pro² network+ Steering Group. His research interests relate to how computers are made, what they are made from, and how we might support individuals with limited resources to make their own computers.
⚙️ Steve Jones, Regional Sales Manager at Eurocircuits. (Keynote)
Steve is an expert in PCB and PCBA manufacturing at Eurocircuits, who describe themselves as ‘an engineer’s best friend’. Eurocircuits specialises in fast turnaround for prototyping and small batch services, offering customers control, flexibility and quality from design to final assembly.
⚙️ Aron Eggens, PhD Student at Lancaster University. Aron’s research interests include software development.
⚙️ John Vidler, Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University. John has research interests in data science and was awarded a prize for teaching by Lancaster University.
⚙️ Kobi Hartley, Research Associate at Lancaster University. Kobi’s research interests relate to the use of tools like the Jacdac and BBC micro:bit which promote prototyping as well as STEM educaiton.
⚙️ Lorraine Underwood, PhD Student and Senior Teaching Associate at Lancaster University. Lorraine is an experienced Educator with a demonstrated history of working in the education and outreach industry. She is also a maker and author, with research interests in physical computing.
Topics
Topics covered during the workshop will be drawn from the list below. For more information, see the full agenda.
⚙️ electronic printed circuit board (PCB) design and manufacture
⚙️ component selection and sourcing
⚙️ reliable firmware
⚙️ moving from your first prototype to tens, hundreds and thousands
⚙️ enclosures for electronic devices
⚙️ design for manufacture (DfM) and for test (DfT)
⚙️ surface mount (SMT) assembly
⚙️ testing and test jigs
⚙️ regulatory compliance
⚙️ working with overseas manufacturing partners
Prizes
Up to £4,000 of prizes are up for grabs! The projects with the most potential for impact, based on the assessment criteria below, will each be awarded either £1,000 or £200 which is to be used to aid prototype development. The summer school organisers will work with awardees after the event to help them spend the money in the most effective way, to suit their prototyping goals.
The full terms and conditions of the competition can be found here
Sponsored places
Up to thirty sponsored places will be awarded based on the assessment criteria below. The most highly-ranked applications will be prioritised for sponsored places which include accommodation and meals from the evening of Tuesday 9th until 4pm on Friday 12th July. Sponsorship awardees need only pay a £50 registration fee, by credit or debit card.
All attendees must be 18 or over and will have to cover their own travel costs. Attendees from overseas will be responsible for arranging any necessary visas.
Format
The three-day workshop will be a lively and dynamic event, leveraging a variety of formats including presentations, demos, hands-on lab-based tutorials, panels and discussions.
The summer school starts at 9:30am on Wednesday 10th July and runs until 4pm on Friday 12th July. The event includes dinner and socialising on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Application process
Applying to take part is easy! Please complete the application form and submit a short paper to admin@prosquared.org containing a description of your prototype or idea for a prototype along with any pictures, sketches or designs of your prototype by the end of the day, midnight AOE on 24th May 2024. Instructions for writing and submitting the short paper can be found in the application form (view a PDF version of the form for reference ahead of submitting).
For your short paper, please use our Summer School paper template. You may find it useful to check out the example application we created to give a flavour of the kinds of information you might include. We will archive the short papers of successful applicants on the pro² website.
We will accept papers with multiple authors. In this instance, please provide information about each author and their contribution to the work in the bio section. Should your paper be accepted, please note that we may not have capacity to offer places at the summer school to all authors.
Assessment criteria for prizes and sponsored places
The summer school organisers will assess applications based on the content of the application form. Assessment criteria will be based on: well-explained and adventurous but realistic concepts, the impact potential of the ideas, consideration of relevant related work, prior relevant experience of the applicant, and responsible innovation.
Additional Information
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email.
Further information regarding the accessibility of Lancaster University facilities can be found on the AccessAble website. Please inform of us of any accessibility or dietary requirements in your application form. You can get in touch with us at admin@prosquared.org with any queries you may have.
Financial aid for domestic travel in the UK may be available upon request to those in need. Attendees should first make a request for funding from their own institution before requesting it from the pro² network+.
About pro² and the Devices Lab
pro² is an EPSRC-funded Network+ with the mission to ease the transition from PROtotyping to PROduction for digital devices. pro² is kindly covering accommodation and catering costs for up to thirty places!
The Devices Lab at Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications works with collaborators from different disciplines and different institutions to design and scale-up electronic devices that help answer all manner of research questions.

IEEE COINS 2024 Early Career Researchers Networking and Social Dinner
2024-07-29 00:00 UTC | King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
The IEEE International Conference on Omni-layer Intelligent Systems is taking place at King’s College London from the 29th to 31st of July 2024. The conference brings together experts in digital transformation (Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Cloud, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and Robotics) from around the globe. IEEE COINS includes a multi-disciplinary program from technical research papers, to panels, workshops, and tutorials on the latest technology developments and innovations addressing all important aspects of the IoT & AI ecosystem. Visit the IEEE COINS 2024 website for more information.
Sponsored Early Career Researchers Networking and Social Dinner Registration:
The pro² network+ is proud to sponsor a networking session during dinner on Monday, July 29th for early career researchers.
This event is exclusively for a select group of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) who aspire to pursue an academic career in the UK and are keen to glean insights from senior academics regarding their journey in securing research council funding in the UK. Further, you must register for the conference before applying.
If you have registered and consider yourself as ECR, apply for this exclusive networking dinner opportunity by filling in and submitting your details at: Sponsored ECRs Networking and Social Dinner

Materials for Digital Devices funding call webinar
2024-11-11 10:30 - 11:30 UTC | Zoom
Registration Link

We are excited to announce a funding opportunity for innovative research projects that explore the use of emerging materials, or novel applications of existing materials, for digital devices. This funding call seeks to support ground-breaking projects that integrate materials into interactive systems to transform how we design, interact with, and experience technology.
New and emerging materials will drive innovation in digital devices. However, there is currently a significant gulf between those with expertise in developing new materials and those who can deploy those materials into the design of novel interactive devices. Outside of large multi-national companies, this gulf presents an insurmountable challenge for most designers. The overarching goal of this call is to reduce the entry barrier to exploring and using emerging materials.
This webinar will provide further information about the call and allow time for interested applicants to have their questions answered. We strongly encourage anyone planning to apply for the call to attend. Please register using the link on the top right of this page to attend on Zoom.
Additional information about the call and the application form can be found on the Materials for Digital Devices webpage.

Prototype 2 Production: Device Isotyping Challenges & Solutions
2025-04-14 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | University of Bristol
The pro² network+ are offering a hands-on workshop focussed on the areas of manufacturing, design and implementation that are often overlooked in low-volume device production, but can present the most significant challenges. Join us for a collaborative session where you can creatively explore elements of device design while learning the basics of ‘isotyping’, or the process of creating prototype copies known as ‘isotypes’ for testing and refinement purposes. Open to all, we welcome you to take part in this exploration of real-world challenges and solutions faced by producers of devices when transitioning from prototype to product.
This is an in-person event taking place as part of the 2025 SW UK Pre-CHI at the University of Bristol. Anyone interested in attending the Prototype 2 Production Workshop must be registered to attend the SW UK Pre-CHI. Learn more and register for free.
Register for this workshop

Device Prototyping Summer School
2025-07-15 11:00 - 2025-07-18 16:00 UTC | Lancaster University
Join us for the second annual Device Prototyping Summer School!
Taking place from the 15th to the 18th of July at Lancaster University, this is a great opportunity to learn how to design and replicate digital devices. Attendees will benefit from access to state-of-the-art university labs for hands-on learning as well as instruction from world-leading experts in electronic device production.
⚙️ Ideal for anyone with an interest in low-volume digital device creation including makers, visionaries, and researchers from any discipline.
⚙️ Open to all levels of experience and all career stages – from student to established professional.
⚙️ Up to thirty places available – food, accommodation and all activities covered for just £50!
⚙️ Prizes available to help the most promising prototype ideas move towards production.
Led by Professor Steve Hodges and Dr. Lorraine Underwood, hosted by Lancaster University’s Devices Lab, and supported by the EPSRC-funded pro² network+. The deadline to apply for this event is the 14th of May 2025.
Instructors
Steve Hodges is an internationally recognised leader in interactive and embedded device creation. He has built and deployed prototypes at all scales, and many of these have transitioned to volume production resulting in millions of devices in market globally.

Lorraine Underwood is an internationally published researcher in computer science education, with a particular focus on physical computing. She has built and developed prototypes for teachers and students to use in classrooms around the UK. Lorraine also creates and films personal electronic projects for element14 part of Avnet, the world’s 2nd largest electronic distributor.
Examples of devices made in the hundreds, thousands and millions that Steve, Lorraine, and summer school co-founder Professor Joe Finney have worked on include the Active Bat indoor location system, the SenseCam wearable camera, several IoT development boards and modules, the Microsoft Touch Mouse, i-String Lite outdoor lighting, Microsoft Adaptive Accessories, several Jacdac modules and kits, .NET Gadgeteer modules and kits, and the BBC micro:bit.

The micro:bit pocket-sized computer used by 66 million children worldwide as they learn to code.

A 5m hummingbird made of the i-String Lite artistic lighting system developed by Joe Finney and Alan Dix.

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories – d-pad controller.

“From the outset of the three days, the engagement and enthusiasm from the attendees was palpable.”
“We arrived with prototypes and left with a deeper understanding of the intricate process of bringing a product to life.”

Curious about the 2024 Summer School? Check out the highlights, including attendee testimonials, submitted papers, and the winners of last year’s prize competition.

2025 Device Prototyping Summer School
Topics covered include:
⚙️ Mechanical CAD (Computer Aided Design)
⚙️ Debugging opportunities for your own devices
⚙️ Design for manufacture (DfM) and for test (DfT)
⚙️ Surface mount (SMT) assembly
⚙️ Testing and test jigs
⚙️ Regulatory compliance
⚙️ Working with overseas manufacturing partners
⚙️ Demo session
Prizes
Up to £4,000 of prizes are up for grabs! The projects with the most potential for impact, based on the assessment criteria below, will each be awarded either £1,000 or £200 which is to be used to aid prototype development. The summer school organisers will work with awardees after the event to help them spend the money in the most effective way, to suit their prototyping goals.
The full terms and conditions of the competition can be found here.
Number of places
Up to thirty places are available at a cost of £50 each. This is a heavily subsidised rate that covers accommodation, catering for all meals and the content of the summer school itself for the duration of the event. Due to the nature of the subsidisation, the cost will be the same regardless of how much of the event you attend. Places will be awarded based on the quality of your application form, the details of which can be found in the application process section below. In the event that an attendee does not require accommodation, a reduced fee of £25 will be charged.
All attendees must be 18 or over and will have to cover their own travel costs. Attendees from overseas will be responsible for arranging any necessary visas.
Format
The three-and-a-half-day event will be lively and dynamic, leveraging a variety of formats including presentations, demos, hands-on lab-based tutorials, panels and discussions.
The summer school starts Tuesday afternoon 15th July at 1.30pm with registrations open from 11am and runs until 4pm on Friday 18th July. The event includes dinner and socialising on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.
Application process
Applying to take part is easy! Please complete the application form and submit a short paper (as a Word Document only, no PDFs) to admin@prosquared.org containing a description of your prototype or idea for a prototype along with any pictures, sketches or designs of your prototype by the end of the day, midnight AOE (anywhere on earth) on 14th May 2025. Instructions for writing and submitting the short paper can be found in the application form.
The above short paper template provides an example of what we are looking for. You can also view submitted papers from the 2024 Summer School. We will archive the short papers of successful applicants on the pro² website.
We will accept papers with multiple authors. In this instance, please provide information about each author and their contribution to the work in the bio section. Should your paper be accepted, please note that we may not have capacity to offer places at the summer school to all authors.
Assessment criteria for prizes and sponsored places
The summer school organisers will assess applications based on the content of the application form. Assessment criteria will be based on: well-explained and adventurous but realistic concepts, the impact potential of the ideas, consideration of relevant related work, prior relevant experience of the applicant, and responsible innovation.
Additional Information
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email.
Further information regarding the accessibility of Lancaster University facilities can be found on the AccessAble website. Please inform of us of any accessibility or dietary requirements in your application form. Quiet spaces and spaces for prayer will be available throughout the event. You can get in touch with us at admin@prosquared.org with any queries you may have.
Financial aid for domestic travel in the UK may be available upon request to those in need. Attendees should first make a request for funding from their own institution before requesting it from the pro² network+.
About pro² and the Devices Lab
pro² is an EPSRC-funded Network+ with the mission to ease the transition from PROtotyping to PROduction for digital devices. pro² is kindly subsidising accommodation and catering costs for up to thirty places!
The Devices Lab at Lancaster University’s School of Computing and Communications works with collaborators from different disciplines and different institutions to design and scale-up electronic devices that help answer all manner of research questions.

South West UK Pre-CHI 2026
2026-03-27 09:00 - 17:00 UTC | University of Bristol Bill Brown Suite
Calling all those interested in Human-Computer Interaction!
We’re proud to once again be sponsors of the South West UK Pre-CHI – a free, open, and supportive conference for students, academics and industry.
This conference will be a fantastic opportunity to share research on all things Human-Computer Interaction in a supportive and friendly environment:

Practice your CHI presentations.
Present your research or ongoing work.
Receive constructive feedback.
Find like-minded collaborators, connections and friends.

Food and refreshments shall be provided. Free registration for the conference closes on the 1st of March. Sign up to:

Secure your spot
Let us know if you have a CHI paper, poster or demonstration to present
Help us meet your access needs and dietary restrictions

Submissions of posters and demos presenting ongoing work are welcome!
Register Now

CHI 2026 Workshop: Are We Doing Enough?
2026-04-14 14:15 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris)
Are We Doing Enough? Sharing Design and Manufacturing Expertise Across Open Source Hardware Communities
pro² network+ Research Associate Rory Clark and network co-founders Mike Fraser and Steve Hodges are among the organisers of this workshop, taking place on the 14th of April at the ACM CHI conference in Barcelona.
The goal of this workshop is not only to share solutions to common challenges in the open source hardware space, but also to consider the methods and efficacy relating to how this information is shared. We will ask ourselves if the community is doing enough to ensure that information about hardware design and manufacturing is accessible, understandable, effective and utilises the best channels to reach the widest audience. Activities will include mapping and analysis of knowledge, collaborative design of potential frameworks to utilise this mapped information, and wider reflection on behalf of the hardware community.
While the application window for participation in the workshop has now closed, we would still love to connect with you at CHI if you’re also attending.

Open Hardware Summit 2026
2026-05-23 09:00 - 2026-05-24 17:00 UTC | TU Berlin
We’re proud to once again be sponsoring the Open Hardware summit, taking place on the 23rd and 24th of May 2o26 in Berlin.
Since 2010, the Open Source Hardware Association, a 501(c)(3) not for profit charity, has hosted the Open Hardware Summit– a comprehensive conference for the open hardware community and the ever changing open source hardware movement.
Speakers include world renowned leaders from industry, academia, the arts and maker community. Talks cover a wide range of subjects from electronics, mechanics to related fields such as digital fabrication, fashion technology, self-quantification devices, and IP law. As a microcosm of the Open Source Hardware community, the Open Hardware Summit provides an annual, friendly forum for the community.
As an event sponsor, the pro² network will have a demo table at the Open Hardware Summit where you can stop by to connect with us and learn more about the work we’re doing to democratise digital device production.

Device Prototyping Summer School 2026
2026-07-14 11:00 - 2026-07-17 16:00 UTC | Lancaster University
Join us for the third annual Device Prototyping Summer School!
Taking place from the 14th to the 17th of July at Lancaster University, this is a great opportunity to improve your digital device design skills with a view to scaling up beyond a prototype. Attendees will benefit from access to state-of-the-art university labs for hands-on learning as well as instruction from world-leading experts in electronic device production.
⚙️ Ideal for anyone with an interest in low-volume digital device creation including makers, visionaries, and researchers from any discipline.
⚙️ Open to all levels of experience and all career stages – from student to established professional.
⚙️ Up to thirty subsidised places available – food, accommodation and all activities covered for just £100!
⚙️ Prizes available to help the most promising prototype ideas move towards production.
Led by Professors Steve Hodges and Joe Finney, hosted by Lancaster University’s Devices Lab, and supported by the EPSRC-funded pro² network+. The deadline to apply for this event is the 13th of May 2026. The application period will open soon in early April. To stay up to date and get the announcement when the application period has opened, please consider registering as a member of the pro² network.
Instructors
Steve Hodges is an internationally recognised leader in interactive and embedded device creation. He has built and deployed prototypes at all scales, and many of these have transitioned to volume production resulting in millions of devices in market globally.

Joe Finney is a global figure in empowering non-experts to innovate with technology, in particular helping them to learn about and build lightweight embedded systems. His work has also led to millions of embedded devices that are in daily use around the world.
Examples of devices made in the hundreds, thousands and millions that Steve and Joe have worked on include the BBC micro:bit, i-String Lite artistic lighting, the Microsoft Adaptive Accessories, the Azure Sphere IoT system, the Microsoft Touch Mouse, and the Jacdac and .NET Gadgeteer prototyping platforms.

The micro:bit pocket-sized computer used by 66 million children worldwide as they learn to code.

A 5m hummingbird made of the i-String Lite artistic lighting system developed by Joe Finney and Alan Dix.

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories – d-pad controller.

Curious about our past summer schools? Check out the 2024 and 2025 highlights, including submitted papers and the winners of previous prize competitions. Here’s what our previous attendees had to say:
“From the outset of the three days, the engagement and enthusiasm from the attendees was palpable.”
“We arrived with prototypes and left with a deeper understanding of the intricate process of bringing a product to life.”
