The booming tech sector in Sussex will receive a further boost as Wired Sussex announces the launch of Greater Brighton Tech Week, which will take place next year.
The non-profit membership organisation said the event would help to raise the profile of the Sussex tech, digital and media cluster, which is already worth £1bn to the local economy.
A week-long celebration will feature workshops, panel debates on the latest trends and an awards ceremony to celebrate the best of the region’s tech businesses, from startups to established players.
Businesses from across the whole of the region will be able to see what else is going on, show off their latest developments, learn about new possibilities, connect with each other and with business specialists, and start to understand the practical possibilities that can be unlocked by investment, funding and business support.
Iain McKenna, CEO, of Wired Sussex, said: “Greater Brighton Tech Week will give the tech sector an event where they can learn together and showcase their successes.
“It will also enable the tech community to meet on a scale which will put them on the radar of outside investors and commentators.
“This exciting event will kickstart a new generation of ambitious business developments and put the local tech cluster firmly on the national and international map.”
Wired Sussex, the voice for tech, digital and media businesses on a local, regional and national government level, will organise, host and deliver the week-long event.
It will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring local dignitaries, industry leaders and influential speakers, and feature panel discussions on emerging tech trends, challenges and opportunities, with experts from academia, industry and government.
The week will also include a Tech Expo and Startup Showcase where local companies, startups and tech enthusiasts can showcase their latest products, services and innovations, and local startups will even be able to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges and investors.
A networking event will enable professionals from the local tech industry to connect, collaborate and build partnerships, and a series of workshops and training sessions on tech-related topics, such as coding, web development, data analytics, artificial intelligence and blockchain, will help to boost skills.
There will also be a jobs fair where companies can showcase their employment opportunities, and a ‘hackathon’ will allow teams of developers and programmers to compete, while developer challenges will encourage collaboration and innovation.
The closing ceremony will include an awards evening for outstanding startups, innovators and contributors in categories such as ‘Best Innovation’, ‘Best Pitch’, and ‘Most Promising Startup.
Iain added: “Sussex has one of the oldest, largest and most creative tech clusters in the country, and Wired Sussex has been at the forefront of developing it, with highlights including the Brighton Fuse report and the funding this project unlocked in the Greater Brighton CityDeal. This research has had a far-reaching impact, which we celebrated in the recent Fuse at Ten report launched by Lord Vaizey at the House of Lords.
“Greater Brighton Tech Week will help our cluster to reach new heights as we build on our success, acting as the voice for tech, digital and media businesses.”
The project will be led and delivered by Wired Sussex with support from the Wired Sussex board which includes representatives from all parts of the local tech cluster.
