South Yorkshire poised to host major Northern Tech Summit aiming to power regional innovation
Next week, Sheffield will become the focal point for the North's technology sector as it hosts the two-day Northern Tech Summit, bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to tackle the challenges of scaling tech businesses across the region.
Sheffield is set to become the centre of the North’s technology sector next week when the Northern Tech Summit arrives in the city, aiming to accelerate collaboration and overcome the obstacles holding back regional technology companies.
Entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from across Northern England are expected to attend the two-day event, which will focus on strengthening connections within the technology ecosystem and equipping businesses to compete internationally.
The summit will spotlight major innovations already emerging from the region and explore how fostering stronger networks can unlock further growth.
Among the keynote speakers are Josephine Kant, Head of Ventures at the government-supported Sovereign AI investment fund; Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK; Ana Avaliani, Director of Enterprise & Place at the Royal Academy of Engineering; Yoram Wijngaarde, founder of the global business intelligence platform Dealroom; and Sue Douglas, co-founder of recruitment technology start-up Veer.
Delegates will engage in discussions on scaling businesses in the North, the investment landscape, and the importance of building more robust connections among local tech ecosystems. The summit programme includes a special showcase on Wednesday, where some of the most promising northern start-ups will demonstrate their innovations and connect with peers and investors.
Recent data from Dealroom highlights the region’s progress: over the past decade, tech investments have grown the northern ecosystem to more than £68billion.
However, with 61% of venture capital for northern firms coming from UK-based investors—compared to a 31% average across the UK—organisers say the summit will address remaining barriers and advocate for a more collaborative infrastructure.
David Richards MBE, a Sheffield-born entrepreneur and founder of Yorkshire AI Labs, describes the challenges: “We are currently seeing arguably the most radical change in the way we all work since the dawn of the industrial revolution.
“The success of programmes being delivered by Tech SY illustrates that we must all embrace those opportunities beyond our own doorsteps.
“Historically, much of the innovative work being delivered, not just in South Yorkshire but across the whole of the North, happened in isolation, and events like the Northern Tech Summit help to illustrate that when barriers are broken, it can often prove to be transformational.”
Similarly, Josephine Kant emphasises the region’s potential: “It’s undeniable that there’s a real sense of ambition and potential in the North, with many start-ups working on some genuinely exciting ideas. For us, it’s so important to be out meeting founders face-to-face, understanding what’s being built across the country.
“The opportunity in the North is significant, and I’m looking forward to continuing those conversations at the Northern Tech Summit, hearing from both founders and investors about what’s needed to unlock that potential.”
To make the summit widely accessible, tickets have been subsidised to £14 for two-day entry, with single day and fringe event tickets also available. Full details and the event programme are available at techsy.co.uk/tech-summit.
TECH SY, which is hosting the event, is a South Yorkshire programme delivered by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and backed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, designed to help local tech businesses realise their ambitions.