Northern Devon’s pioneering innovation is the focus of a new exhibition

A new exhibition showcasing the high tech prowess and pioneering business in North Devon, Torridge and beyond opens in Barnstaple this October.

Northern Devon Innovates runs at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon from Saturday, October 25 until January 3, with admission free.

It aims to shine a light on ground-breaking businesses located across the area that are pushing innovation boundaries and serving global markets.

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From the Atlantic coast to inland market towns, including both the Torridge and Taw valleys, the exhibition shows how there is far more to the region than agriculture and tourism.

The region emerges as an area also driving innovation in fields such as ICT, aerospace engineering, marine technology and pharmaceuticals, among others.

The exhibition features case studies of companies including Autonaut, based in Okehampton, whose innovative approach to marine exploration has revolutionised the collection of ocean data to meet the evolving needs of marine research with zero carbon emissions.

Above: The Northern Devon Innovates exhibition runs at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon from October 25 to January 3. Credit: NDC

Other companies featured include Ecotribo, a Chivenor-based company creating recycled products using ocean-retrieved plastics; and Kremple, a global engineering company with a Bideford base dedicated to producing high performance products for industries including aerospace, defence, medical and automotive.

Northern Devon Innovates opens on Saturday, October 25 with a public launch from 5 to 7pm. Entrance is free.

Alison Mills, director of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon said: “We were thrilled when Councillor Mark Haworth-Booth, chair of the museum’s Advisory Board and Honorary Research Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum, came to us with the idea for this exhibition.

“We’re also excited about being able to highlight the potential of Northern Devon for aspiring young people with ambitions to grow and innovate.

“We hope the exhibition will demonstrate that ours is a region full of exciting and often overlooked pathways into local businesses dedicated to creating products of global quality and reach.”