Call for Contributions – Shifting Currents: Tech, Trade, and Security
- Get involved in techUK’s International Trade Campaign Week 2025 –
The campaign and what we are looking for
Every year the International Policy and Trade Team at techUK run a week long campaign around a relevant topic - this year the campaign will be titled Shifting Currents: Tech, Trade, and Security.
In today's rapidly evolving global landscape - technological innovation, geopolitical shifts, trade wars, and economic security considerations are fundamentally reshaping international trade. The techUK International Trade Week is designed to not only equip our members with insights, strategies, and practical approaches to navigate these complex disruptions, but to also showcase the cutting-edge solutions that can help businesses in the wider economy trade and grow internationally.
From trade digitalisation platforms, regtech solutions, and trade compliance software, to supply chain visibility tools, geopolitical risk analytics, blockchain innovations, digital twin simulations for reshoring manufacturing, and advanced cyber tools, the marketplace is rich with technologies that can help companies manage risk, boost resilience, and seize new growth opportunities.
With rising trade tensions among many of the UK’s key trading partners and the increasing convergence of economic and national security priorities worldwide, this moment presents both challenge and opportunity. This is a pivotal moment to bring the importance of trade – and especially digital trade – to the forefront of economic growth strategies. By embracing technology and adopting forward-thinking, adaptable strategies, companies can not only mitigate risks but actively position themselves to thrive in a rapidly transforming global trading landscape.
We invite techUK members, other stakeholders and thought leaders to share their perspectives on how the technology sector can adapt to and shape the future of international trade while contributing to the UK's economic prosperity and security.
The themes of the week (7 - 11 July)
Monday: Navigating the shifting currents in the global trade landscape.
This theme will look into:
- Geopolitical shifts and trade tensions
- Risks and opportunities in the current international trade dynamics
- Best practice: how tech companies make business plans in the age of instability
- The role of industry-government partnerships in creating more resilient global trade systems
Tuesday: Trade & Security: As economic security plays a greater role in domestic and international policy considerations.
This theme will look into:
- Most effective strategies for economic security
- Reflections on UK’s sync of industrial and trade strategies
- Reflections on the National Security Strategy and what it means for international trade and investment
- The role of cybersecurity in safeguarding supply chains, CNI, and national and economic security
- How we can make export controls and sanctions work for the tech sector, the UK and our allies
Wednesday: Navigating Disruption: Supply Chains.
This theme will cover:
- How technology companies are navigating the tariff disruption and uncertainty?
- How technology can assist with supply chain sustainability
- The role of technology in supply chain management, transparency and due dilligence
- The role of data in sustainable supply chains
Thursday: Future-Proofing Trade: the transformative and disruptive impacts of emerging technologies and trends on international trade.
This theme will examine:
- The Future of Digital Trade: What do bilateral Free Trade Agreement, digital-only trade agreements and tech partnerships need to cover to be future-proof and in lockstep with tech developments?
- The transformative impact of AI on global supply chains and trade finance
- The inclusion of provisions on AI and Quantum Computing in trade agreements
- The impact of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) on International Trade
- Emerging TradeTech innovations and Trade Digitalisation
- WTO reform, future of multilateralism
Friday: Navigating Disruption: the global perspective – the US, EU, Asia-Pacific, India, and beyond.
This theme will cover:
- Best practice from around the world on balancing open trade with economic security
- EU-CPTPP trade dialogues
- UK-China relations in the aftermath of the China audit
- Tech adoption as a driver for growth – case studies from Singapore, Korea, Estonia and around the world
- India as a trade, tech and security partner for the West
How to contribute to the campaign
We welcome a variety of formats so that you can decide what would best fit your company. Here is what you can submit and some guidelines:
Blogs
These will be published on our website as an insight page.
- Be at least 400 words in length and no more than 1500 words maximum.
- A blog can discuss a wide range of things - general thoughts, business case studies, specific analyses, etc.
- Can include images, infographics and videos/vlogs (see below guidelines about submitting videos)
- Add links throughout your text
- Send us a photo headshot, bio, and any social media details you wish to share
- Read the full contributor guidelines here.
Please send your blog to [email protected] and [email protected] with the subject line 'Trade Campaign Week 2025 | Blog Submission' no later than Thursday, 3 July.
Video Statements
These will be published on our social media channels primarily and spotlighted on our campaign week page.
- Create 30 to 90 seconds (max 2min) speaking-to-camera video, responding/expanding to 1 of the following questions/topics:
- How is your organisation adapting its global strategy in response to shifting geopolitical shifts and trade tensions?
- In what ways are you investing in or adopting emerging technologies to maintain a comparative advantage and drive growth in international markets?
- What strategies/approaches have you found to be most beneficial in strengthening economic security as it plays a greater role in domestic and international policy considerations?
- How is your organisation building or adopting emerging technologies that help you trade internationally or monitor your supply chains?
- Or do you have some interesting insights related to tech, trade and security trends that you think people would be interested in hearing
- Email us your video at https://wetransfer.com/. Instructions here.
- Examples: #1 , #2
- Send us a photo headshot, bio, and any social media details you wish to share no later than Thursday, 3 July.
Sabina Ciofu
Sabina Ciofu
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +32 473 323 280
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
Daniel Clarke
Daniel Clarke
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Theophile Maiziere
Theophile Maiziere
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- linkedin.com/in/théophile-maiziere-a32772111
Lewis Walmesley-Browne
Lewis Walmesley-Browne
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-walmesley-browne/