Group photo, left to right back row: Craig Hodgson, Mills and Reeve; Nick Finlayson-Brown, Mills and Reeve;Mike Rigby, Eastern Promise; Martin Frost CBE; Chris Bruce, Cambridge Tech Week; front row: Hannah Smith, Anglia Capital Group; Dr Jerry Wu, Tuspark; Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of UEA; Dr Soraya Jones, UEA and Professor Sheng Qi, UEA.
More than 150 high-profile delegates from across the technology ecosystem attended a special networking and collaboration event at the University of East Anglia (UEA) on 23 April 2024. The event showcased world-leading technology research and innovation in the region and looked at the potential to generate economic growth by promoting new tech partnership and business collaborations– within the East of England and beyond.
Taking place at the stunning Sainsbury Centre, the event was hosted by UEA, in partnership with Cambridge Tech Week, with support from Mills & Reeve and Norwich Research Park.
Dr Soraya Jones, Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence for UEA, said: “We’re proud to host this collaboration event and delighted that UEA will be involved in Cambridge Tech Week for the first time this year, as headline sponsors of the ‘Innovation Alley’ exhibition. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase what the University – and indeed the East of England as a whole – has got to offer the tech world. We’re keen to foster new partnerships and promote collaboration within the region and beyond.”
Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of UEA, commented: “UEA’s work has a significant impact on the world that goes far beyond academia. This is because we’re committed to working with partners on a local, national and international level – working across geographical and subject boundaries. As well as leading experts from UEA, it’s great to be joined by so many of our partners here today – including representatives from the other institutes and businesses at the internationally-renowned Norwich Research Park.”
Chris Bruce, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week, added: “I’m so pleased with the response we had from the East of England tech community in attending the collaboration event with our hosts and partners UEA. Cambridge Tech Week in September will be an open event where global tech will come to meet and I want to encourage contributors, delegates and partnerships from the Eastern region, across the UK and internationally to join us. Last night we had a great representation from the tech community and real enthusiasm to do more together with fantastic innovation in Norwich, Ipswich, Cambridge and other parts of the region.”
At the event, distinguished speakers discussed the huge potential for further growth in the East of England, due to the outstanding innovation in the area. As well as Dr Soraya Jones, Professor David Maguire and Chris Bruce, guest speakers included:
- Martin Frost CBE, a serial founder, investor and entrepreneur
- Hannah Smith, MD at Anglia Capital
- Dr Jerry Wu, Head of Investments at Tus Park
- Prof Sheng Qi, Professor of Pharmaceutical Material Science & Technology, UEA
- Mike Rigby, Eastern Promise, MC for the evening
The event is among a series of special events taking place in the run-up to Cambridge Tech Week (9-13 September 2024). Cambridge Tech Week brings together world-leading experts, innovators and investors to fuel growth across the tech ecosystem. This dynamic event also serves as an epicentre for showcasing the latest knowledge and cutting-edge technology, positioning Cambridge, the East of England and the UK in the world tech spotlight.
