This year’s conference, entitled: ‘From the Moon to the Deep Blue Sea’ explored key technology developments, from space to maritime, how they serve us today and how they will help shape our lives in the future. 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 & sustainability.
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. Building on this success, our 2024 International Conference promises to be even bigger and better than ever!”
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. She commented: “It’s been an eventful year for AI, with some significant developments in its evolution. Across all sectors, organisations are striving to ensure that AI development benefits humanity societally, economically, and environmentally.” Dr Maya Dillon continued: “The Cambridge Wireless International Conference brought together technologists and business leaders – key decision-makers seeking ways to innovate, and I was proud to be a part of the conversation.”
Among the exhibitors and sponsors at CWIC was Michal Waszkiewicz, Head of Marketing at Intralink – a UK-headquartered business development and innovation consultancy – who 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, was among the hundreds of conference attendees. He said: “There were some really thought-provoking sessions at this year’s Cambridge Wireless International Conference. 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 an inspiring debate, both entertaining and informative, titled: ‘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, University of Cambridge, and co-host of the Good Robot podcast - expertly argued the case for a potentially bleak Oppenheimer future which swayed even the most optimistic members of the Barbie camp, leading her to victory. Buoyed by the stimulating debate, attendees enjoyed a final opportunity to network over drinks and canapes before heading home - the perfect end to a fantastic day.
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.
