UEA’s world-leading tech innovation showcased at special event

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Top row: Craig Hodgson, Partner, Mills & Reeve; Nick Finlayson-Brown, Partner, Mills Reeve; Mike Rigby, Easter Promise; Martin Frost CBE, a serial founder, investor and entrepreneur. Bottom row: Hannah Smith, Investment Director & MD at Anglia Capital Gr

Over 150 high-profile delegates from across the technology ecosystem attended a special networking and collaboration event at the Sainsbury Centre on UEA campus this week (Tuesday 23 April).

The event, which was supported by Norwich Research Park and Mills & Reeve showcased UEA's world-leading research and innovation and looked at the potential to generate economic growth in the east of England by promoting new tech partnerships and business collaborations.

The gathering was hosted by UEA, in partnership with Cambridge Tech Week, and coincided with UK Tech Week.

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."

Delegates at the event heard how UEA innovations span everything from industry-changing software to diagnostic tools for the treatment of infectious diseases, the creation of sustainable biocomposite materials, and much more.

Professor David Maguire, Vice Chancellor of UEA, said: "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 was great to be joined by so many of our partners at the collaboration event - including representatives from the other institutes and businesses at the internationally-renowned Norwich Research Park."

Chris Bruce, Chair of Cambridge Tech Week, spoke at the event about the potential for further economic growth in the East of England, adding: "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. 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."

During the event, Professor Sheng Qi, UEA's Professor of Pharmaceutical Material Science & Technology, joined an expert panel discussion into how we can innovate, invest and grow as a region and build new partnerships for continued success. MCed by Mike Rigby of the Eastern Promise podcast, the panel also included Hannah Smith, MD at Anglia Capital (and a UEA graduate); Martin Frost CBE, a serial founder, investor and entrepreneur; and Dr Jerry Wu, Head of Investments at Tus Park.

Cambridge Tech Week will take place from Monday 9 - Friday 13 September 2024, bringing together world-leading experts, innovators and investors to fuel growth across the tech ecosystem - showcasing work across the East of England.

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