Inaugural Cambridge Tech Week shines a spotlight on region’s global ecosystem
Cambridge Tech Week, a flagship event that showcases the innovation taking place in the Cambridge tech sector, was launched yesterday (May 9) with an opening ceremony at the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre and a promise to “bring focus to our unique ecosystem”.
The packed four-day programme for the inaugural event celebrates the ideas of the future, including AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors and wireless connectivity, at sites including Hinxton, the Cambridge Union debating chamber, and The Bradfield Centre.
Monty Barlow, the CEO of Cambridge Consultants, gave the opening address at the Francis Crick Auditorium and positioned Cambridge as the place where some of society’s “toughest, most urgent and essential challenges” can be solved.
The morning’s proceedings included panel sessions assessing quantum technologies, future of work, and AI/deep tech. Guests on these panels included Stan Boland, CEO at Five, Kirsty Gill, chief people officer at Arm, Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, CEO and founder of Nu Quantum, and Howard Watson, CTO at the BT Group.
Events today (May 10) include an interview with Hermann Hauser, co-founder at Amadeus Capital Partners, multiple future technologies sessions (for example on ‘diagnosing Alzheimer’s with virtual reality’), a panel discussion on semiconductors with guests including Raj Gawera, VP and managing director, Samsung Cambridge and Samsung Denmark, and a series of interviews with experts on battery technology and financial crime protection among other topics.
The Thursday events will be among the most exciting seen in Cambridge this year. With AI-driven chatboxes now becoming embedded in our thinking, Cambridge Union will welcome Henry Ajder, a globally recognised advisor, speaker, and expert on generative AI and synthetic media (deepfakes), and The Big Tech Debate, a two-parter featuring Dr Julian Huppert, director of Jesus College’s Intellectual Forum, “interpreting” ChatGPT.
Friday is international day with events at The Bradfield Centre showcasing how companies can benefit if they join this unique hub.
The steering committee for the event includes Caroline Hyde, head of ecosystem initiatives and partnerships at Cambridge Enterprise. She said: “Our vision from the start was to create a programme that would capture the most relevant and topical discussions happening across the world in the fields that we have an outstanding reputation in. High-value content is central to our agenda.
“Developing a flagship event that represents the significant tech landscape across the city, and brings focus to our unique ecosystem, was a key milestone in the next chapter of Cambridge’s global success story.”
Cambridge Tech Week is the brainchild of Ann Fisher, co-founder of Bailey Fisher Executive Search. Soraya Jones, who is also on the steering committee, paid tribute to Ann as she recovers from illness. Soraya, a former CEO of CW and a Royal Society entrepreneur in residence, told the Cambridge Independent: “Cambridge is the unicorn capital of Europe, with a global turnover of $47bn, and 44 unicorn companies valued at $207bn, so why don’t we celebrate the innovation and technology being developed here?”
Caroline Hyde concluded: “With a robust initial offering, we know there is huge scope to evolve CTW further and draw in a greater international audience as the event’s value is demonstrated.”
Expect fringe events across the city for the rest of the week – details here.
