Cambridge Wireless’ CWIC 2023 proves its value for delegates, sponsors and speakers
The 15th anniversary of the Cambridge Wireless International Conference – CWIC – saw delegates at Hinxton Hall consider two key threads – one being space, airborne, terrestrial, maritime technologies, and the other their transformative impact on business and society in the drive for the connected world of the future.
Hundreds of attendees were at CWIC 2023, which was titled ‘From the Moon to the Deep Blue Sea’.
The variety of sessions that ran throughout the day included topics such as the reality of AI, the impact of emerging quantum technology, the dramatic evolution of satellite technologies and the application to maritime the environment, networks and sustainability.
Dr Maya Dillon, head of AI capabilities at Cambridge Consultants, led the hugely popular AI session which explored the next frontier of Generative AI and the governance approaches to deliver them effectively.
“It’s been an eventful year for AI,” said Dr Dillon, “with some significant developments in its evolution. Across all sectors, organisations are striving to ensure that AI development benefits humanity societally, economically, and environmentally.”
She added: “CWIC 2023 brought together technologists and business leaders – key decision-makers seeking ways to innovate – and I was proud to be a part of the conversation.”
Michal Waszkiewicz, head of marketing at Intralink, said: “As a company focused on the practical, commercial side of bringing great ideas and technologies to life internationally, we felt right at home at the Cambridge Wireless International Conference. It was great to see innovative startups join forces with established industry leaders to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. And our ‘moonshot Ideas’ session demonstrated that collaboration in and with Asia might be the key to unlocking those possibilities.”
Afolabi Agbede, accomplished engineer at BT, also found the event on Wellcome Genome Campus productive.
“There were some really thought-provoking sessions at this year’s conference,” he said. “One thing I’ll be thinking more carefully about after today’s comments from Dr Fionagh Thomson is the need for us as technologists to be aware of the unintended consequences of our innovation – whether positive or negative. We don’t take stock of this enough.”
The final session of the day was both entertaining and informative: ‘Barbie vs Oppenheimer’. This discussed whether emerging technology will build a utopian Barbie world or risk an Oppenheimer nuclear winter. Dr Eleanor Drage, research fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, expertly argued the case for a potentially bleak Oppenheimer future which swayed even the most optimistic members of the Barbie camp, leading her – Dr Drage rather than Barbie – to victory.
Paul Crane, CEO of Cambridge Wireless, said: “Once again, the Cambridge Wireless International Conference delivered inspirational talks from industry leaders, stimulating some fantastic discussions and debate, giving the audience the inside track on developments which will impact their businesses.
“As always, the benefits of meeting face-to-face shone through, and attendees enjoyed a warm welcome from the Cambridge Wireless community of members, partners, sponsors, and exhibitors.”
He added: “Huge thanks to all our sponsors and exhibitors who helped to make the 15th Cambridge Wireless International Conference such a success - UKTIN, Keysight, Protolabs, The Technology Partnership, Appleyard Lees, Mpirical, Intralink, Analysys Mason, Intellectual Capital Resources, Plextek, Kiwa, Anglia Ruskin University, Alan Boswell Group, Rohde & Schwarz, IOTAS, Iprova, Form the Future, Black Talent & Leadership in STEM, eScent, Cambridge University Space Flight, Cambridge Tech Podcase, Mimo Connect, Beyond Math, Supersense Technologies, Zorb, Jet Connectivity, TraitSeq, OPAU, Weightless Space Ltd, Blecon, Nuva, planarific, HomeRun, cofinitive and UKQuantum.”
