Roundtable: Unlocking UK leadership in next-generation compute hardware

The UK government has committed up to £2 billion by 2030 to build a world-class compute ecosystem. Now, the race to lead the next wave of computing innovation is on, which requires a clear understanding of where innovation in this space is heading and the hardware that will deliver it. 

This closed-door roundtable brings together innovators, policymakers, and industry to explore how the UK can capitalise on its strengths in advanced Semiconductor Design, Quantum, Photonics, and Neuromorphic technologies to secure long-term leadership in Frontier Compute. The convergence and integration of these technologies represents a fundamental shift in how compute systems are conceived and built. For the UK, this is an opportunity to define and lead in the next generation of compute. 

The UK is well-placed to seize these opportunities. World-class research is already underway across photonic chip designs, neuromorphic data processing and a new generation of start-ups is beginning to commercialise these capabilities. However, these advances will not emerge in isolation, but depend on significant investments, a skilled workforce and manufacturing capability to move from research into real-world deployment. 

Join techUK, as we bring together experts across technology, policy, and industry to explore the next generation hardware needs for the UK to secure long-term leadership in Frontier Compute. 

What We Will Cover 

• Making the case: The strategic case for Frontier Compute as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and national resilience, and how industry can better demonstrate this value to government.  

• The foundations behind this: Identify current and future gaps in investment, manufacturing capability, supply chains and the workforce that will hinder the UK's potential to excel in this next wave of innovation.  

• The convergence opportunity: How the intersection of Photonics, Quantum, Neuromorphic and Semiconductor technologies represent a step-change in computing capability, and how the UK can turn its current strengths into a genuine strategic advantage.  

• Approach: The role government and industry will play in enabling the development and deployment of next-generation hardware, and how the Compute Roadmap should support this ambition.  

The session will open with keynote speeches from industry experts. 

Confirmed Speakers (more to be announced)