The Future Is Now: Tech Driving UK Industry – Event Highlights
On 24 September the Business School welcomed over 60 attendees to The Future Is Now: Tech Driving UK Industry, an event held in partnership with the School of Computing and Leeds Digital Festival.
Taking place at the Faversham, Leeds, the event brought together industry leaders, researchers, and policy professionals to explore how emerging technologies are driving change across UK sectors.
Organised as part of the Business School’s Ideas in Practice event series, the event featured keynote talks, expert panel discussions and interactive research demonstrations. Attendees engaged with the latest academic insights into responsible computing, robotics, artificial intelligence in finance, and smart supply chains.
Highlights included:
- A panel on Responsible Computing, chaired by Rashik Parmar MBE, CEO of BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT, exploring the societal impacts of digital innovation.
- Keynotes from Dr Nabi Omidvar on the role of AI in financial services and Professor Mehmet Dogar on advancements in robotics.
- Research-led sessions on digital resilience and supply chain innovation, led by Professor Chee Yew Wong.
Speaking after the event, Catherine Thristan, Director of External Engagement (Partnerships and Executive Education), commented:
Our goal was to bridge theory and practice – to show how research at Leeds can help businesses navigate digital transformation responsibly. The strong turnout and positive engagement suggest a real appetite for continued collaboration between academia and industry.
Interactive exhibits showcased tools developed at Leeds, including AI-driven analytics platforms and robotics systems designed for real-world application. Attendees praised the opportunity to explore hands-on demonstrations and discuss emerging research directly with academic teams.
The Business School is committed to connecting cutting-edge research with business and policy, supporting innovation that is inclusive, sustainable, and responsible.
Find out more about research and innovation, and how we’re working with businesses.
