| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 14:00 | Arrivals and registration |
| 14:30 | Opening remarks from techUK |
| 14:40 | Keynote |
| 14:55 | Panel 1: The frontier: what AI can now do in science |
| 15:30 | Break |
| 15:40 | Panel 2: The enablers and gaps: compute, data, funding, skills and adoption |
| 16:15 | Attendee pitches and introductions |
| 16:25 | Closing remarks and next steps |
| 16:30 | Networking |
| 17:00 | Event close |
AI for Science: one year on from the government's AI for Science Strategy
This event is part of techUK's AI Leader's Series, an event series equipping business leaders, policymakers, and technical professionals with timely, actionable insights on emerging AI trends. Each session translates complex developments into practical guidance, helping attendees make informed decisions about AI innovation, adoption and governance.
AI is beginning to change not just what science can discover, but how discovery happens.
Over the last few years, the cutting edge of AI for science has moved from prediction to action. AI systems have gone from predicting the structures of known proteins to designing entirely new ones, and are increasingly becoming autonomous participants in the research process itself, generating hypotheses, designing experiments and running them in self-driving labs. Over time, this could compress decades of scientific progress into years.
Taking place almost exactly a year on from the government's AI for Science Strategy, this event will take stock of what has been delivered and what comes next. Bringing together researchers, industry and government, it will explore two questions: what AI can now do at the frontier of science, and what the UK needs to put in place to realise that potential at scale, from compute and AI-ready data to funding, skills and adoption.
The afternoon will feature a keynote, two expert panels, and the chance for attendees to share their own work, followed by networking.
What will we cover
- What AI can now do at the frontier of science, from designing entirely new proteins to running experiments in autonomous, self-driving labs
- Where this is already delivering real breakthroughs, for example in drug discovery, protein design and materials science
- What the UK needs to put in place to realise that potential at scale, from compute and AI-ready data to funding, skills and adoption
- Where the clearest opportunity sits for UK businesses and SMEs, including access to the AI Research Resource (AIRR)
Agenda
Full speaker line-up to be announced soon.
Get involved beyond this event
techUK members working on AI in research and science can engage year-round through the AI Hub and Innovation Hub.
For more information, please contact:
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Ella Shuter
Ella Shuter
Ella joined techUK in July 2025 as Junior Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies.
In her role, Ella leads the design and delivery of techUK's focus areas, which identify emerging technologies of interest to members and Government. These initiatives seek to showcase industry best practice, champion key UK sectors, and address the challenges and opportunities shaping the development, application, and commercialisation of these technologies. Previous focus areas led by Ella have included photonics, and currently, frontier compute.
Ella also supports the day-to-day running of techUK's Emerging Tech and Innovation Policy activity, working to convene industry experts and policymakers to showcase best practice, shape government thinking, and ensure the UK leads on the development and deployment of transformative technologies.
Before joining techUK, Ella completed an internship at Digital Catapult, supporting across public affairs, policy and the organisation's programmes. She also has experience working in an MP's Parliamentary and Constituency Office.
Ella holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-shuter-264158244/
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the UK Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's five-strong Emerging Technology and Innovation team, working with many of the UK's most innovative tech companies to convene experts and decision-makers, showcase best practice, shape government's thinking, and ensure the UK leads on developing and deploying transformative technologies.
The team's main areas of focus are AI Innovation, Quantum, Semiconductors, Robotics, Photonics, Frontier Compute, Innovation Policy, and Technology Convergence.
Rory sits on BIST's expert Robotics Advisory Group, hosts techUK's Meet the Innovators video interview series, and chairs techUK's Emerging Tech Leadership Committee, comprising 36 senior leaders from the UK's most exciting tech companies. He also judges the Global Space Awards, sits on the SXSW Pitch Advisory Board, has hosted London Tech Week's Deep Tech Stage, has completed Stanford University's Tech & Entrepreneurship residency, and has given oral evidence in a House of Lords Select Committee.
In his spare time, Rory enjoys photography, reading non-fiction (tech, architecture, design & geopolitics), and searching for London's best burger.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
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Contact the team
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi
Kir Nuthi is the Head of AI and Data at techUK.
She holds over seven years of Government Affairs and Tech Policy experience in the US and UK. Kir previously headed up the regulatory portfolio at a UK advocacy group for tech startups and held various public affairs in US tech policy. All involved policy research and campaigns on competition, artificial intelligence, access to data, and pro-innovation regulation.
Kir has an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London and a BA in both Political Science (International Relations) and Economics from the University of California San Diego.
Outside of techUK, you are likely to find her attempting studies at art galleries, attempting an elusive headstand at yoga, mending and binding books, or chasing her dog Maya around South London's many parks.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
He leads techUK’s AI Adoption programme, supporting members of all sizes and sectors in adopting AI at scale. His work involves identifying barriers to adoption, exploring solutions, and helping to unlock AI’s transformative potential, particularly its benefits for people, the economy, society, and the planet. He is also committed to advancing the UK’s AI sector and ensuring the UK remains a global leader in AI by working closely with techUK members, the UK Government, regulators, and devolved and local authorities.
Since joining techUK, Usman has delivered a regular drumbeat of activity to engage members and advance techUK's AI programme. This has included two campaign weeks, the creation of the AI Adoption Hub (now the AI Hub), the AI Leader's Event Series, the Putting AI into Action webinar series and the Industrial AI sprint campaign.
Before joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, regulatory and government/public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales, marketing, and FinTech.
Usman holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a GDL and LLB from BPP Law School, and a BA from Queen Mary University of London.
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
Sue Daley OBE
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on AI, Cloud, Data, Quantum, Semiconductors, Digital ID and Digital ethics as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the tech agenda in the UK, in December 2025 Sue was appointed to the UK Government’s Women in Tech Taskforce by the Technology Secretary of State. She also sits on the UK Government’s Smart Data Council, Satellite Applications Catapult Advisory Group, Bank of England’s AI Consortium and BSI’s Digital Strategic Advisory Group. Previously, Sue was a member of the Independent Future of Compute Review and co-chaired the National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries in 2020, Sue has been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and has been a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI, the UK Tech 50 and annual UK Cloud Awards. She is a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015, Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. Before that, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue
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