The full programme and keynote speakers have been announced for the UK Innovation Corridor annual conference, which will be held online on June 23.

Full Programme

Realising the ambition for the UK to be Global Science Superpower

10am – 12 noon
How can the Innovation Corridor’s powerful assets be brought to bear to realise the UK’s ambition to be a scientific superpower? How can local authorities and their residents and businesses, together with universities and colleges, play a leading role in helping the country take the opportunities before it?

10am, Welcome from Ann Limb, chair, UK Innovation Corridor

10.05am Keynote Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green.
A Freeport for the global science superpower?
Promoting trade in the UK Innovation Corridor – how can the UK Innovation Corridor use the freeport concept to drive international trade?
10.25 Discussion and questions with a panel of local leaders

11.00 Ed Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State BEIS
The role of the UK Innovation Corridor in achieving a green technology revolution. Followed by a panel discussion with local leaders.

11.30 Skills: A new concordat?
The UK Innovation Corridor launched the UK’s first ever Regional Skills Concordat in 2019. This was a unique and innovative declaration of collaborative intent by the twelve Further Education Colleges and College Groups serving the Corridor. How has this worked? And what needs to be done now to make sure we can deliver the right talent base for future employers? In particular, post-pandemic, how do we reskill workers for jobs in rapid-growth sectors?
Chair: Ann Limb

12.15 Improving rail
Network Rail have published/are about to publish their medium-term strategy for the West Anglia network. This will show what improvements could be made, and what funding would be required to make them a reality. What are the priorities? And how can we close whatever funding gaps exist to help as many as possible progress now?
Chair: Lord Haselhurst

13.00 Lunch break

Driving Investment & Trade
The UK Innovation Corridor is home to a thriving community of businesses located in dynamic and growing places, with the potential to make a significant difference to the UKs balance of trade. The UK innovation Corridor is also a very attractive location for investment – money invested here will generate a strong return, and international businesses seeking a new home will find it easy to put down roots in such fertile soil. But how can we harness the potential of our economy to make a difference to the UK? What do we need to do to help businesses grow internationally?

14.00 Keynote – Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business

14.15 A place that pays
The UK Innovation Corridor is attractive to investors. How can we realise this potential? What are the opportunities for investment or for location in the Corridor? How can you get involved?
Chair – Daniel Zeichner MP

15.00 International success
How can we help businesses grow and build links into new markets in the US and Europe? How can we learn from elsewhere?
Chair – Julie Marson MP

15.45 Keynote – George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk, and member of the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform.
How can the UK Innovation Corridor grow international trade?
Followed by a panel discussion with a number of businesses from the Corridor

16.25 Closing remarks from the chair – Ann Limb

16.30 Close

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