Interested in what our digital future will look like? This week Cambridge plays host to pioneers of some of the most exciting and disruptive Silicon Valley companies - including Google, Apple and LinkedIn - in series of free public events on the 17 and 18 November, where insights into world-changing ideas will be shared by the people who made them happen.
Interested in what our digital future will look like? This week Cambridge plays host to pioneers of some of the most exciting and disruptive Silicon Valley companies - including Google, Apple and LinkedIn - in series of free public events on the 17 and 18 November, where insights into world-changing ideas will be shared by the people who made them happen.
Silicon Valley has entered the modern lexicon as a high-tech Shangri-La, the nerve centre of the digital age. But its heels are being snapped at, and this week some of the great and good of Silicon Valley cross the pond, and will be stopping in Cambridge to doff their caps to the fenland upstart.
Home to an ever-expanding cluster of tech companies, ‘Silicon Fen’ has become one of the most prominent centres of business growth in Europe. With what’s been termed the Cambridge Phenomenon only gathering momentum, the university at the heart of it all is the perfect place to host two days of free events that bring around 30 of Silicon Valley’s major players together with UK business leaders, investors and the students who will become the next generation of serial entrepreneurs.
The Cambridge days will form the centrepiece of a series of events called ‘Silicon Valley comes to the UK’, dubbed SVc2UK, now an annual fixture in the calendar of every self-respecting UK tech-head, entrepreneur, angel and investor. To register for an event, visit: www.svc2uk.com/cambridge
“This is the fourth year for the SVc2UK series and it is bigger and more ambitious than ever before,” says Sherry Coutu, a leading investor and SVc2UK co-chair. “We hope that by inspiring our world-class students, who are overflowing with ideas to make change happen, we will reap rewards in the not-too-distant future.”
Among the topics discussed will be the future of education in the digital era, posing the question ‘what will the world of education look like in 10 years time?’ at a free event on the 17 November (registration required). The panel includes: Reid Hoffman - SVc2UK co-chair and founder of the LinkedIn network, Greg Joswiak – Head of iPhones and iPads for Apple, and Joi Ito – CEO of Creative Commons and Head of the MIT Media Lab. Moderated by Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, the panellists are all involved in projects that may well change the face of education in the near future.
This year’s focus will be on ‘Economy 2.0’ and re-writing the rules for economic growth. “The colossal power and potential of a digital world in making a real difference at a time of immense economic turbulence is at the heart of SVc2UK” says Coutu. During the day of 18 November, a series of talks from some of the most powerful people in Silicon Valley will take place, designed to inspire audiences to investigate the world of high-tech start-ups and fast-growing, innovative companies.
Later on that day there will be a ‘Big Data’ panel discussion looking at the digital future and the growth of internet commerce, where speakers will include Andrew McLaughlin – former CTO for Barack Obama, and Megan Smith – Google’s VP for business development, who has overseen such projects as Google Earth and Picasa. Speakers will also be visiting local 6th Form Colleges to encourage teenagers to think about the impact they could have on the world if they pursue entrepreneurship.
Earlier this year SVc2UK launched an ‘Appathon’, in which 1,500 students from 15 universities across the UK entered a coding competition to develop consumer applications using government data, with the aim of making positive social impact by enhancing the accessibility of key information. This innovative project was applauded by the current government, and SVc2UK counts Prime Minister David Cameron among its supporters, who said: “Silicon Valley comes to the UK is one of the most important inward investment events of the year, bringing leading entrepreneurs and investors together with British technology companies to spark new connections. I warmly welcome the news that SVc2UK is rewarding the creative use of government data.”
SVc2UK co-chair and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman says: “When it comes to entrepreneurship there are no borders, which is why I look forward to this event each year. I and the other entrepreneurs benefit hugely from meeting the inspirational businesses and students from the UK and Europe. And if in turn we help inspire the talent of tomorrow, then everyone benefits.”
Main events will be taking place at the Cambridge Judge Business School and the Cambridge Computer Lab. Events are free but registration is essential. Full details of the speakers and the programme of events can be accessed at www.svc2uk.com/cambridge
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