23 Jun 2022

Event round-up: the UK Innovation Strategy one year on – are we winning the global race for tech Innovation?

As part of techUK's London Tech Week activities this year, we were delighted to invite industry leaders together to explore the UK Innovation Strategy one year on – are we winning the global race for tech Innovation?

Addressing what we have learnt in the last twelve months since the release of the UK’s Innovation Strategy, and whether UK government, academia and industry are working together to build the right innovation ecosystem to support businesses of the future, techUK's Associate Director of Policy Neil Ross was joined by:

Jonathan Legh-Smith, Head of Scientific Affairs, BT
Matthew Houlihan, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Cisco
Gurpreet Manku, Director of Policy, British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA)
Tim Ryan, Partner and Head of Commercial, Media and Technology, DAC Beachcroft LLP

You can watch the full recording here:

This wide ranging conversation explored key areas of the innovation ecosystem in the UK, from inward investment, financing, developing skills and talent, regulation and more. The panel started by idenifying best practice by Government over the last twelve months, giving the example of the methodical approach to quantum technologies through the long term investment into quantum through the NQTP, its importance in the Innovation Strategy, and now the upcoming Quantum Strategy. In terms of what the UK gets right, the conversation also discussed how UK Government has been an enabler of investment through bringing communities together with the productive finance working group. However, understanding key areas where UK Government and industry can work together to build a strong innovation ecosystem in the UK was critical to the discussion, and each panellist took time to identify the key issues for them going forward.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to learn more about techUK's Innovation Policy work

Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.

Laura advocates for better emerging technology policy in the UK, including quantum, future of compute technologies, semiconductors, digital ID and more. Working alongside techUK members and UK Government she champions long-term, cohesive, and sustainable investment that will ensure the UK can commercialise future science and technology research. Laura leads a high-performing team at techUK, as well as publishing several reports on these topics herself, and being a regular speaker at events.

Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer exploring adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the team at London Tech Week.

Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University and is a Cambridge Policy Fellow. Outside of work she loves reading, writing and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.