--- title: "Innovation: What we learnt from Utility Week Live" description: With innovation set as the theme for this year’s event, our energy and technology team went on a mission to Birmingham NEC image: https://blog.activeprofile.co.uk/hubfs/WHAT%20WE%20LEARNT%20FROM%20UTILITY%20WEEK%20LIVE.png --- [![Active-Profile-logo_pastel-pink](https://blog.activeprofile.co.uk/hubfs/Logos/Active-Profile-logo_pastel-pink.svg)](http://www.activeprofile.co.uk/)   - [About us](https://activeprofile.co.uk#section-1) - [What we do](https://activeprofile.co.uk#section-2) - [Work with us](https://activeprofile.co.uk#section-3) - Get in touch # Innovation: What we learnt from Utility Week Live Read Time: 1 minutes [![Innovation: What we learnt from Utility Week Live](https://blog.activeprofile.co.uk/hubfs/WHAT%20WE%20LEARNT%20FROM%20UTILITY%20WEEK%20LIVE.png)](https://blog.activeprofile.co.uk/2016/06/03/innovation-learnt-utility-week-live) [Utility Week Live](http://www.utilityweeklive.co.uk) is the essential show for any business operating in, or engaged with, the water, gas and electricity sectors. With innovation set as the theme for this year’s event, our energy and technology team went on a mission to Birmingham NEC to scout out the best stories and insights coming out of the utilities sector. Here are our top five takeaways: 1. The energy market continues to be in a state of transition. Sara Vaughan from energy company, E.ON UK, highlighted the evolving relationship between energy suppliers and their customers which is moving towards a partnership model. 2. Digital utilities is coming. Utility companies need to start considering how they can adapt in order to engage with the small technology businesses that are likely to be the source of the disruptive technologies that will enable digital utilities. 3. Lengthy procurement cycles and the question of IP ownership continue to create barriers to network operator adoption of SME innovations. 4. Great innovations in utilities are happening all over the world. [The District Heating System in Malmo](http://innoheat.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Improvements-in-Heating-Systems.pdf) and [Smart City Dubai](https://www.kpmg.com/AE/en/Documents/Dubai%20A%20new%20paradigm%20for%20smart%20cities.pdf) are just two examples that the UK can look to learn from. 5. Encouraging customers to engage differently with their energy options is key to a cleaner, more secure energy future. 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