The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work
In October, the West Midlands Growth Company held the Global West Midlands: the Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work event at Birmingham Tech Week 2023.
The showcase event displayed the very best of cutting-edge advanced technologies being developed in the UK’s second-largest city and in the wider West Midlands region.
On 13th October 2023, delegates from 23 countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, India, Poland and the USA, came to The Bond Studios in Birmingham to experience a series of fascinating keynote talks, debates and demonstrations from leading tech experts, entrepreneurs and investors.
A number of common themes included:
- How the West Midlands world-class R&D infrastructure is at the heart of UK innovation
- Why it will be a driving force behind the UK Government’s goal to become a Science & Technology Superpower by 2030
- The scale of technological convergence underway across the region as cross-sector companies collaborate
- The depth of tech talent available
- The abundance of opportunities for firms to partner with the West Midlands’ world-class academic institutions
As a UK leader in advanced technologies and the UK’s fastest-growing tech sector, the West Midlands is creating ideal conditions for international firms looking to develop, test and commercialise next-generation technologies in the UK market.
Global West Midlands: The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work is a West Midlands Growth Company event in partnership with TechWM.
Hear from the Host: Tom Cheesewright, Applied Futurist
We were delighted to have Tom Cheesewright as the host for Global West Midlands: The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work!
Tom is an experienced broadcaster, presenter and commentator with over a decade’s experience and more than two thousand appearances on TV and radio across the BBC, Channel 4, 5 and Sky News.
He expertly led the day, introducing the panel discussions, and gave his own insightful takes on the tech of tomorrow.
Kieran Borrett, Plug & Play
Kieran Borrett of Plug & Play spoke to us on the day about launching Plug & Play Health, an accelerator aimed at supporting start-ups to scale globally, the headquarters of which, is in the West Midlands.
Melissa Snover, Nourished
We asked Melissa Snover about the West Midlands, and what it offers that makes it unique compared to other places around the world. She referred to the region’s exciting tech sector as more than holding its own on a global scale, setting it apart from other places.
Announcements on the day
As well as hearing from many sector leaders about the progress that the West Midlands is making in the innovative tech spaces, there were multiple announcements made. From an Innovation Accelerator for healthcare tech, to new jobs being announced, to a West Midlands-London partnership that will help tech companies, there was much for any innovative, entrepreneurial company to take notice of.
West Midlands Innovation
Panel Discussions
Throughout the day, we heard from leaders in the industry, who delved into the unique traits of the West Midlands that makes it such a fruitful place for tech companies.
They covered topics from mobility to AI to healthcare, why these technologies are crucial to tomorrow’s developments, and how the West Midlands is the place to be for companies looking to revolutionise the face of an industry.
If you were unable to join us on the day, fear not. We’ve delved into the insights that our panellists gave us to share their expertise with you.
Including speakers from:
Your guide to making a success of West Midlands Tech
Where: Room One
When: 11:15 – 12:00
With:
- Danielle Hook, Director Technology & Sector Growth Lending at HSBC UK
- Dr Zoë Webster, Director – Data and AI Solutions at BT
- Rupert Lyle, Investment Director at Midven
- Farhin Khan, Head of AWS UKI Database Sales, GTM and Business Development at AWS
- Thomas Morrissey, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs
- Rachel Hampton, Sustainability Cloud & Digital Transformation at PwC
The West Midlands £15 billion tech sector has become a critical driver of its economy. It represents the UK’s fastest-growing tech sector and a strategic nexus for developing emerging technologies.
This panel discussion will bring together global corporate heavyweights to discuss how big and small businesses can translate this critical mass into real opportunities. From talent acquisition and knowledge sharing to funding support and product development, the session will see senior leaders share their personal reflections on making a success of West Midlands tech.
Q&A – Becoming A Science & Technology Superpower
Where: Room One
When: 13:00 – 13:45
With:
- Laura Foster, techUK
- Lisa Perkins, Director of Research & Innovation at BT
- Sarah Walker, Managing Director, Enterprise at Cisco
- Melissa Snover, CEO & Founder at Nourished
- Samuel Lellouch, Quantum Department Representative at University of Birmingham
- Amit Chouhan, UK Portfolio Strategy & Enablement, UK Digital Office at Fujitsu UK
This interactive discussion will offer a glimpse into the future, predicting how the world of tech will look by 2030 – the date the UK Government has set a goal of becoming a ‘Science and Technology Superpower’.
What are the breakthrough technologies the West Midlands and the wider UK should be capitalizing on to remain competitive? How will AI impact our demographic? Is 3D Printing set to revolutionise the world of fashion and ecommerce? Join us as we kick off Global West Midlands: The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work with a lively discussion on the impact of tech.
Smarter Cities, Smarter Threats?
Where: Room One
When: 13:45 – 14:30
With:
- Matt Robinson, Head of Nations & Regions at techUK – Panel Moderator
- Meredith McMurray, UKTL Principal Project Manager, UK National Telecoms Laboratory
- Marc Manns, Vehicle Line Director at TATA Technologies
- Dr Colin Tucker, Chairman at Novocomms/Vivipari Group & ex-Orange & 3UK CTO
- Adele Every, Managing Director for Public Sector at Cisco
- Zephaniah Chukwudum, Microsoft
The UK’s most 5G-connected location, the West Midlands, has ambitions to accelerate ‘smart city’ applications across building infrastructure, energy networks and autonomous transport meanwhile, mitigating the growing security risk from bad actors.
This panel brings together Cybersecurity and Future Telecoms experts to discuss the benefits and inherent challenges of creating highly complex interconnected environments.
Driving Britain’s Green Industrial Revolution Through Tech
Where: Room One
When: 15:15 – 16:15
With:
- Guy Newey, CEO at Energy Systems Catapult – Panel moderator
- Kate Ashworth, Energy Capital (West Midlands Combined Authority)
- Chris Pritchett, Partner at Shoosmiths
- Steve Goldspink, Head of Strategy & Business Development at Siemens
- Toby Siddall, Managing Director & Sustainability Lead, Accenture UK & Ireland
Acting as an enabler for decarbonisation, recent advancements in IoT smart sensors, AI and digital twin models are accelerating the digital transformation of the UK energy landscape, and as the centre of the UK energy sector, the West Midlands is well-placed to spearhead this transition.
Achieving a decarbonised and decentralised electricity grid by 2030 will require the availability of timely, accurate data and rapid, effective take-up of new technologies. This will involve the need for greater collaboration between national and local policymakers and between industry sectors.
Join this session to understand the importance of modernising the UK’s energy systems and the opportunities and challenges that the UK is likely to face on its journey to a digitised energy future.
Hope or Hype: Can Technology Revolutionise Healthcare?
Where: Room Two
When: 15:15 – 16:15
With:
- Victoria Bentley, Partner at Shoosmiths – Panel moderator
- Danny Harrison, Innovation Manager at Warwick Manufacturing Group
- Junaid Arshad, Head of Department at Birmingham City University
- Elliot Parnham, Founder at Skyfarer
- Melanie Davidson, CEO at Medilink Midlands
- Dr. Thorsten Kampmann, Senior Advisor, Transformation Team – Manufacturing Technology Centre
With 5G opening game-changing possibilities for the healthcare industry, the West Midlands is on the cusp of a new era of medical innovation. Millions of people already use wearables for the purpose of quantification and preventative care, with the market opportunity expected to grow exponentially.
This event will see our expert panellists discuss the industry and academic innovations they’ve supported and the broader role of the West Midlands in driving efficiency for patients and clinicians.
AI – A tool to accelerate or destroy creativity?
Where: Room One
When: 16:30 – 17:30
With:
- Rachel Davis, Director of Warwick Enterprise, University of Warwick – Panel Moderator
- Jon Swain, Managing Director at Shine TV
- Alex Harvey, Co-Founder & CEO at RiVR
- Rowan Bray, Managing Director at Clear Cut Nations & Regions
- Sud Parwana, UK Digital Products Leader at PwC
Artificial Intelligence is dominating the headlines with conflicting reports about the opportunities and challenges posed by this highly disruptive, rapidly developing technology. In March 2023, a Goldman Sachs report predicted AI could eventually replace 300 million full-time jobs globally and affect nearly one-fifth of jobs, while a World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report stated the technology could create 97 million new jobs within just two years by 2025.
There are real concerns across multiple industries, with the SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America striking over concerns about AI, artists suing AI companies for mass copyright infringement and record labels moving to ban songwriters’ voices being cloned by the technology. We are aiming to pull together representatives from key CreaTech industries affected by and using AI – including Immersive Tech, Gaming and Film Production – to discuss the merits of the technology, the inherent threats it poses and what regulation is needed.
Is it a tool that can be used to spark creativity and ideas, or will it wipe out the need for human creativity?
Why is tech key to tomorrow’s mobility?
Where: Room Two
When: 16:30 – 17:30
With:
- Lorna Ball at Arup – Panel Moderator
- Liz Scoffins, Senior Research Engineer at MTC
- Kevin Vincent, Director at Centre for Connected and Autonomous Research and NTDC, Institute for Clean Growth and Future Mobility.
- Neil Fulton, Managing Director at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation
- Don-Paul Dhaliwal, Co-founder & CEO at Conigital Group
Join our panel of industry thought leaders as they explore the growing and increasingly vital links between technology and its applications in transport mobility.
As the industry adopts new technologies in an attempt to decarbonise propulsion, the panel will discuss the practical application of autonomous technology, AI and the corresponding need for ever more sophisticated cyber security. Discover the interdependencies of mobility technologies and their applications and receive an oversight of the most exciting developments in the West Midlands.
