From pilot to scale: Why test beds matter for scaling industrial innovation

Posted: August 20, 2026

Industrial innovation holds much potential. The challenge is turning that potential into solutions that can be trusted, adopted and scaled. We often find that technologies perform well in controlled environments but struggle when faced with the realities of live operations, legacy systems and human behaviour. That is why test beds are becoming such an important part of the innovation ecosystem. They provide a setting where solutions can be tested, refined and validated in real-world conditions before wider deployment.

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Living Lab is a compelling example of this approach. By bringing together innovators, startups, academics, policymakers and industry practitioners, the Living Lab creates a collaborative environment where sustainability solutions can be evaluated against operational reality and supported by real-world evidence. Its network of connected test beds is growing across Cambridge, providing opportunities to accelerate the adoption of solutions that can deliver impact beyond a single site, as well as the chance to collaborate with some of the most promising startups.

For AVEVA, joining the Living Lab is about more than participating in an innovation programme. It is an opportunity to deepen our engagement with the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, the place where our story began. As a University of Cambridge spinout founded in 1967, AVEVA has spent nearly six decades innovating in and around Cambridge. As we approach our 60th anniversary, this partnership reflects our ambition to reconnect with those roots while helping to shape the future of innovation in the region through closer collaboration with the University, CISL, sustainability-focused startups and the wider research community.

Scaling innovation requires trusted data

Access to test beds alone, however, is not enough to scale innovation. Organisations need trusted data and repeatable evidence. This is where AVEVA can contribute. As a corporate member, innovation partner and test bed provider, we are bringing expertise in digital twin technology, industrial AI and analytics. Our technology enables visualisation, contextualisation and analytics, helping to transform operational data into insight that can be relied upon for important decision-making. This is valuable for startups and innovators, who often have brilliant solutions but need evidence that can be relied upon, as well as scalable approaches to demonstrate impact and accelerate adoption.

Test beds create a pathway from pilot to scale

The value of test beds lies in their ability to close the gap between innovation and implementation. Real-world environments create the evidence needed to build confidence, while digital platforms help turn that evidence into insight that can be replicated elsewhere. Together, they create a pathway from pilot to scale. The CISL Living Lab demonstrates how connected test beds, collaborative partnerships and data-driven decision-making can help promising ideas move beyond experimentation and achieve meaningful, widespread impact. We’re excited to see where this partnership will go, stay tuned!