More than 35 events will take place across Milton Keynes next month as the city prepares for the return of Milton Keynes Tech Week.
Running from October 12 to 16, the five-day programme will bring together businesses, researchers, investors and technology specialists for events covering artificial intelligence, robotics, entrepreneurship and digital skills.
Milton Keynes Tech Week is returning for its second year after organisers reported more than 23,000 attendees at the inaugural event.
Milton Keynes City Council is the lead sponsor, with Protospace CIC delivering the programme. The event comes as the city looks to build on a technology sector that the council says now includes more than 2,400 businesses and generates £3.4 billion in economic activity.
At the centre of the week will be the official Milton Keynes Tech Week Conference at Unity Place on Thursday October 15.
BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman will host the conference, bringing together speakers from government, business and academia to discuss the technology, data and infrastructure shaping the UK’s economy.
However, much of the activity will take place beyond the main conference.
The wider programme includes RoboPASS, which will explore robotics and autonomous technology in cities, and the Accelerating AI Conference, featuring speakers from Google, Canva and Microsoft.
Female Techpreneur’s Future Builder Hackathon will focus on women and girls in technology, while Hays Women in Tech will examine careers in the sector. Start-ups will also have an opportunity to pitch through an event organised by TC Group.
Other organisations taking part during the week include The Open University, NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator, Central Arc Angels, Biztech, PyData Milton Keynes, MK Geek Night and Overt STEM.
Councillor Lauren Townsend, Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, said: “Milton Keynes has built a reputation for embracing innovation and working with businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs to turn new ideas into real-world opportunities. Tech Week is a chance to celebrate that success and showcase the talent, creativity and ambition that can be found across our city.
“From artificial intelligence and robotics to entrepreneurship and digital skills, this year’s programme offers something for everyone. We’re proud to support this week of events that brings people together, attracts investment and helps strengthen Milton Keynes’ position as one of the UK’s leading technology and innovation hubs.”
Simon Wright, director of Protospace, said the range of organisations involved reflected the breadth of the city’s technology sector.
“The strength of Milton Keynes’ technology ecosystem is the diversity of organisations and people working across it, and the programme gives us an opportunity to bring those communities together,” he said.
“The official conference gives us a chance to have some big conversations about sovereign technology and the UK’s tech future, while the wider programme demonstrates the extraordinary range of activity already happening across the city.
“We’re delighted with the calibre of speakers joining us this year and particularly pleased to see so many organisations taking an active role in shaping the week.”
Tickets for the official conference and details of the wider Milton Keynes Tech Week programme are available through the event’s website.
