JULY 2019
Why Data Matters KEY THEMES AND NEXT STEPS FROM VIP EVENT: 18th JULY 2019
Prepared by Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor Operations Team July 2019
AGENDA CAMBRIDGE NORWICH TECH CORRIDOR OVERVIEW JO VERTIGAN: CHAIR FUELLING OUR AMBITION GEORGE FREEMAN: MP
INTRODUCTION TO SETI PROFESSOR GERARD PARR: UEA WHY DATA MATTERS GEMMA MILNE: KEYNOTE PANEL DISCUSSION GEMMA MILNE: MODERATOR TONY JONES: ONE NUCLEUS ABHI NAHA: CAMBRIDGE WIRELESS LAURA BOUVET: AGRI-TECH EAST PROF GERARD PARR: UEA
EVENT OVERVIEW
PAGE 02
VIP EVENT OVERVIEW Setting an exciting vision for our collective future
On 18th July 2019, business and public sector
We were then very fortunate to welcome Professor
leaders from across the region joined us at The
Gerard Parr to the stage to share his vision for
Welding Institute, Granta Park, Cambridge for a VIP
SETI: the Smart Emerging Technologies Institute.
celebration of tech in the Eastern region and to
(more details on page 3). "This region has unique
hear game-changing plans for a new ultra-fast
assets making a national impact - innovation can
research network connecting Cambridge, Norwich,
help them flourish and SETI can be the 'honest
Ipswich and beyond.
broker' to make that innovation happen."
Introduced by Chair of the Tech Corridor Delivery
Keynote speaker, Science & Tech writer Gemma
Board, Jo Vertigan. the event highlighted the
Milne, then engaged delegates with a visionary
progress of the Tech Corridor to date and
exploration of what Deep Tech and Big Data can do
highlighted our key priorities for the year ahead.*
to transform our world.
There followed a video message from George
The event was wrapped up with a panel discussion
Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, who shared his
with representatives from Life Science, Agritech,
support for the Tech Corridor and the SETI Project.
Digital ICT to discuss tangible examples of where
"We need to make sure we are linking our hubs of
SETI could make a difference, such as assisted living
innovation with the population and wider
and the future of farming. "People will want to come
catchment."
here and do things that aren't being done elsewhere"Prof Gerard Parr. *https://www.techcorridor.co.uk/articles/cambridge-norwich-tech-corridor-priorities/
SMART EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES
INSTITUTE (SETI)
OVERVIEW
“Data is changing the world. It has become a new kind of infrastructure that underpins every sector” Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FREng FRS
The Smart Emerging Technology Institute (SETI) will be a new science, technology and business asset for the East of England. It will create a superfast fibre research network, more than 1,000 times faster than a standard broadband connection, linking the University of East Anglia, the University of Cambridge and BT’s R&D centre at Adastral Park. Users of the network will be able to log-on and access massive data sets, generated on farms, in healthcare centres and by East Anglia’s energy coast, and use this data to carry out research and test new business ideas. SETI will support large-scale experiments in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for all the key sectors in the region’s industrial strategies, driving breakthroughs in areas such as medical imaging, next generation internet TV (IPTV) and virtual-augmented reality for the digital engineering and energy sectors, as well as drug discovery and life science research. It will enable collaborations between scientists and businesses on a scale never before possible. Alongside the core hubs in Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge, spur connections from the network will link it to important sites such as business parks, wind farms and healthcare facilities across East Anglia, creating a facility to benefit the entire region. As the only network of its kind in Europe, it is likely to attract interest from across the UK and beyond. SETI will act as a central point for all the data collected and used on the network, ensuring it remains available to researchers in the future.
WHO IS DRIVING SETI? SETI will be a virtual institute led by University of East Anglia and governed by key stakeholders from across the Eastern region. Partners in the project include the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Science Park, Norwich Research Park, BT Adastral Park, the University of Essex and the Port of Felixstowe. The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor will champion the commercial case for SETI, identifying businesses and projects which could utilise the network, and lobbying for funding and support.
WHAT NEXT? If you are interested in being part of the taskforce exploring the potential of SETI for businesses then we'd love to hear from you: linn@techcorridor.co.uk
TECH CORRIDOR AMBASSADORS
To enable key tech clusters in the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor to flourish, we’ve set up an ambassador network and special interest groups involving over 100 companies. Ambassadors act as evangelists for the Tech Corridor. They’re able to position their businesses as part of the bigger regional story as well as connecting with like-minded businesses and forging new partnerships. We were lucky to have around 50 with us at our VIP event, easily identified by their blue ambassador cards.
The Tech Corridor special interest groups are addressing opportunities identified by companies to make positive changes around talent, value-chains, infrastructure and marketing. Our Talent Taskforce group met for the first time last month, looking at ways to attract the next generation of tech stars while embracing the ageing workforce. The discussion included scoping out plans for a novel ‘talent sharing’ platform, which would see companies who need specialist skills at certain busy periods in the year share highly-qualified workers, providing continuity of employment for staff and value for employers. If you’d like to find out more about this, have a word with the team, or check out the whitepaper published on our website. If you are interested in being a Tech Corridor ambassador, please drop us a line at matt@techcorridor.co.uk
Thank you for coming @techcorridoruk www.techcorridor.co.uk