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https://cambridgetechweek.co.uk/news/get-ready-for-cambridge-tech-week-9-13-sep-24/
Cambridge Tech Week – latest news
Chris Bruce, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week, shares an update on CTW24
It’s official. The launch of Cambridge Tech Week (9-13 Sep 24) started with successful events in Cambridge, hosted by Mills & Reeve, and in London, hosted by Rathbones.
Both events were attended by a range of entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and other members of the tech eco-system. The energy and enthusiasm in the room echoed the positive feedback received from delegates and sponsors last year.
The format for each event was similar but with a slight difference in emphasis – in Cambridge with a rallying cry for the tech network to come together to put on a world class week of activities and in London as clear outreach to encourage visitors from across the UK and internationally to come to Cambridge and see what’s happening!
I also emphasised that although Cambridge Wireless is ultimately responsible for delivering CTW24, we are doing so in partnership with a range of organisations, partners, networks and individual supporters across the ecosystem. Take a look at our gallery of photos from our launch events.
The purpose of Cambridge Tech Week is to create a key point in the Global Tech calendar and for CTW to be the place where Global Tech comes together. Designed as a platform to welcome others from not only the Cambridge Tech Cluster but from across the East of England, the rest of the UK and overseas to meet interesting people, uncover new opportunities and stimulate collaboration and business development.
The theme this year is INNOVATE – INVEST – GROW and this reflects the opportunity and challenge represented in the Cambridge tech cluster and across the tech ecosystem. Cambridge Tech Week is a vibrant showcase for innovators and investors to mix, make connections and identify investment or business opportunities.
Taking a closer look at the week itself, On Monday 9th September we’ll be holding our Welcome to Cambridge Day at the Science Parks and introducing visitors to the tech ecosystem including some of the key players, followed by tours of companies and their innovation capabilities. I’m delighted that the Cambridge Science Park, Bradfield Centre and St Johns Innovation Centre are partnering with us to host our visitors.
Tuesday 10th September will see a focus on the innovation landscape (at the Guildhall) with our Innovation Alley expo at the Corn Exchange – including select investor pitch events in parallel. Additionally, we’ll hold a CXO Innovation summit for corporates exploring the challenge of incorporating novel technologies and processes to drive business change.
On Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th September we hold Deep Dive Technology sessions, of half a day each, at Pembroke College in a remarkable venue (a restored United Reform church). The tracks are: AI on Wednesday (morning) and Quantum Technologies (afternoon) whilst Thursday is devoted to Semiconductors (morning) and Climate Tech (afternoon). The aim is to give ample room for these topics to go below the headlines. These are all areas where Cambridge has a right to speak yet, the CTW24 team is partnering with others to ensure we get a broad range of contributions with domain expertise: eg with UK Quantum and Cambridge CleanTech helping to construct an exciting programme of speakers and content.
Also on these days, we’re running alternative tracks at the historic Cambridge Union Society building (the oldest continuously operating debating society in the world). On Wednesday 11th September we will be convening the Big Tech Debate in the historic Debating Chamber to discuss the implications of tech, rather than the tech itself. On Thursday 12th we’ll also be holding the Scale Up Day where tech leaders and investors will share insights for scaling companies with practical help will offered in workshops and ‘office hours’.
That leaves Friday 13th September when we reach out to young people to encourage them to consider tech as a career path and, equally importantly offer guidance and advice on how to explore the options. I’m very pleased to be working on this with Anne Bailey, CEO Form the Future, John Bull and the Cambridge Science Centre and a host of others in this space.
Whilst you’re here, don’t miss our next event! We’re holding an East of England Tech Collaboration event on 23rd April 2024 in Norwich. The event is hosted and sponsored by the University of East Anglia, with additional support from Mills & Reeve and Norwich Research Park. I am grateful to DR Soraya Jones, Entrepreneur in Residence, UEA who has helped enormously with this event and will introduce our host, Prof David Maguire, Vice Chancellor and President, UEA
Our panel of expert speakers ably chaired by Mike Rigby, Eastern Promise, includes serial entrepreneur Martin Frost CBE, Professor Sheng Qi – UEA, Dr Jerry Wu – Head of Investment, Tuspark and Hannah Smith – MD, Anglia Capital Group. Find out more and register to attend this special evening event. And don’t forget to sign up to the Cambridge Tech Week newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to keep up-to-date with all the latest news.
