Birmingham Tech Week, the UK’s largest regional technology festival and conference returns for its sixth edition this year. From 21-25 October, the event is set to be the biggest yet; with over 8000 attendees and hosting 100+ speakers.
Venues such as Millennium Point, STEAMhouse, The Exchange, and the ICC will host a comprehensive program encompassing interactive tech demos, insightful panel discussions, and forward-thinking forums. Key highlights include a Scale up Summit, an Engineering & Developer Conference, Global Growth Congress with a futuristic Tech Expo, and the prestigious black-tie dinner and awards ceremony.
Each day will follow a core theme, with Monday focusing on leadership and Tuesday doubling down on both digital skills and the HealthTech sector. Wednesday will see the Global Growth Congress as well as a day dedicated to women in tech and cyber. Thursday’s focus is on growth, whilst Friday will finish the week with the theme of celebration.
Alongside the festivities, Birmingham Tech Week will also host the much-anticipated ‘One to Win’ pitch competition – spearheaded by Rigby Group, Haatch, and SCC, and delivered by Midven, part of Future Planet Capital – and will see a ground-breaking £1 million awarded to a West Midlands business that’s demonstrating game-changing innovation. The pitching will take place on Wednesday 23rd with the winner announced during the black tie and awards dinner on Friday 25th.
Supported by a number of sponsors and partners, TechWM is the not-for-profit driving the biggest regional tech festival outside of London. In its sixth (and biggest) year, TechWM will collaborate with its founding and new patrons to solidify Birmingham Tech Week 2024 as the most impactful iteration since its inception in 2019.
Birmingham, Europe’s youngest city, continues to be a hub for innovation, with more than 6,000 companies employing over 56,000 individuals, contributing to a dynamic ecosystem valued at over £15 billion. The region is also home to growing tech talent, with over 55% of university students staying within the region after graduation.
Reflecting this innovative spirit, Birmingham Tech Week 2024 presents a programme rich with vast industry insights and associated fringe events, including sessions on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Augmented Reality. Businesses will have the opportunity to access expert-led discussions designed to propel growth and equip them for the future of technology, with events including advice on access to funding, global exporting, digital skills and with more to be announced.
Since the first Birmingham Tech Week in 2019, the festival has grown by 50% and has featured talks and input from some of the world’s best innovators and entrepreneurs. This year, the event will welcome experts from leading tech brands like Microsoft and Amazon.
Sharing his excitement for this year, Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM and Birmingham Tech Week, said:
“TechWM is on a mission to connect, amplify and propel the region’s tech sector, and Birmingham Tech Week perfectly embodies that vision. We continue to bring together industry leaders and pioneering tech brands to solidify the West Midlands’ position as a global tech powerhouse.”
“This year, Birmingham Tech Week is going to build on the West Midland Tech Ecosystem’s narrative of Making Tech Succeed, In The Most Human Of Places, which was officially released during the West Midlands Tech review in May. We have a fantastic lineup of speakers and events planned, offering a truly enriching experience for all attendees. As well as, of course, the grand finale of our One To Win pitch competition.”
Birmingham Tech Week is now open for registration, sponsorship, and fringe event expressions of interest. To find out more, visit www.birminghamtechweek.com.