Join Lab of the North — Associate Membership Now Open

Lab of the North is growing. We are now inviting organisations from across the UK and beyond to join our network as Associate Members.  The first formal step into the LoTN ecosystem.

This is not a passive affiliation. Associate Membership is for organisations that want to help shape what we are building – contributing expertise, opening doors, and getting genuine early access to a platform that is going somewhere.

Our inaugural cohort is now open. We have places for up to six organisations, with a September 2026 start.

Why now?

LoTN has established a strong founding network. The next phase is about deepening the ecosystem, bringing in organisations that add something different and are ready to be active from day one.

Founding Associate Members will help shape how LoTN develops.

Who should apply?

We are open to organisations of any size, from anywhere in the UK and internationally.  From SMEs and specialist technology firms to large enterprises and public sector bodies.

If your work touches any of the following, we want to hear from you:

• 5G, 6G, and advanced connectivity
• AI, IoT, and edge computing
• Smart places and digital infrastructure
• Critical communications and private networks
• Industrial and public sector deployment of these technologies

You do not need to be an existing LoTN partner. New contacts are actively encouraged to apply.

What Associate Members get

• A seat at the quarterly Associate Member Forum.  A closed working group that shapes LoTN’s programme priorities
• First call on funded bid opportunities through UKRI, Innovate UK, and DSIT programmes.
• Direct access to LoTN’s founding partner network across industry, academia, and regional government.
• Profile and visibility at LoTN events, publications, and online.
• Intelligence briefings on funding pipelines, policy developments, and sector research.
• Priority access to testbed and trial environments as LoTN’s capabilities grow.
• Recognition as a founding Associate Member of a growing national connectivity platform

What we ask in return

Associate Membership requires two things: an inaugural donation fee and a specific in-kind contribution – expertise access, personnel time, or facilities that genuinely strengthen the network.

The financial commitment is set to be accessible.  Our focus is on the in-kind contributions, as they are crucial. We are building a network whose value derives from what members contribute.

Ready to find out more?

Download the full Associate Member call document now. It covers everything: the benefits in full, what we are looking for in applications, the assessment criteria, and how to apply.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, Friday 17 July 2026.

If you have questions before applying, get in touch at info@labofthenorth.tech

We actively encourage conversations before submission.

Download the Associate Member Call Document (pdf 206kB)