The first regional innovation event of its kind, Venturefest East will be held at the Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket on 24th May 2016 and will bring together hundreds of entrepreneurs, innovators and investors from across the region.
It has been created by St John’s Innovation Centre, Cambridge and New Anglia and Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnerships. It is part of the Innovate UK series of events and provides opportunities for delegates to listen to some of the great entrepreneurial visionaries, attend inspirational workshops and network with individuals and organisations.
BT, which has its global Research and Development Headquarters at Adastral Park, near Ipswich in Suffolk, will be working collaboratively with Innovation Martlesham at the event. Innovation Martlesham is a cluster of almost 80 high-tech ICT companies located at Adastral Park, which provides innovation companies with space to develop and grow, tailored events and a range of business support for its members, including mentoring from specialists.
Dr Tim Whitley, Managing Director, Research and Innovation, BT and New Anglia LEP board member, will join world-class keynote speakers at the event to focus on the future of innovation. He said, “The East is rich with knowledge, talent and creativity, that is why we are so delighted to support Venturefest East. BT has a long history of innovation and we want to work even closer with entrepreneurs and businesses to maximise the impact we can have in the region. Innovation Martlesham is a powerful catalyst for business and it is a great opportunity to showcase how they can help companies; from start-ups to major organisations.”
Chris Starkie, Managing Director of New Anglia LEP said, said, “BT is a global innovator and it is fantastic to have secured their support. This sends out a powerful message nationally, that this region is at the forefront of championing expertise and invention, from the major international organisations that are based here to the small, pioneering companies clustered across the East.“
BT joins UEA as a lead sponsor of Venturefest East, which builds on the success of New Anglia’s iExpo innovation events held at BT’s Adastral Park, Suffolk and Norwich Research Park, Norfolk.
For further information on Venturefest East and to book your discounted early bird ticket, which ranges from £20 to £50, depending on the size of your organisation, visit www.venturefesteast.co.uk
Venturefest East is jointly delivered by Innovate UK, The Knowledge Transfer Network, St John’s Innovation Centre, Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (GCGP), New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, sponsored by University of East Anglia, BT, Taylor Vinters, Barclays Bank, SBRI Healthcare and Adnams, and supported by Cambridge Wireless, Cambridge Network, One Nucleus, Cambridge Cleantech, Agri-Tech East, Games Eden and Alliantus Ltd.
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities and securing exhibition space, please contact Kevin Coleman at kcoleman@stjohns.co.uk
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