Westminster eForum

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference will bring out latest thinking on tackling gender imbalance in the UK’s tech sector.

It takes place as parliamentarians launch an inquiry into Equity in the UK STEM workforce, looking at best practice in fostering inclusiveness and diversity in organisational environments, taking into account educational pathways to careers in STEM.

These issues are reflected in the agenda for this conference, in addition to progression and female leadership in the UK tech sector - and looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic turndown on women in tech.

We are delighted that the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, which is conducting the enquiry, Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Digital, is a chair at this conference - and Margot James, Executive Chair, WMG, University of Warwick and former Minister of State for Digital and Creative Industries, DCMS, is one of the keynote speakers.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; DCMS; DfT; the Government Equalities Office; the Government Legal Department; HMPPS; the Department for the Economy NI; the UK Space Agency and the Welsh Government.

The agenda:

• Closing the gender gap in tech and championing digital skills
• Improving take up of STEM subjects at an early age, and fostering links between the tech sector and secondary education
• Attracting more women into studying STEM subjects at an advanced level and pursuing careers in the tech sector
• The impact of COVID-19 and the economic downturn on women in tech
• Addressing workplace culture issues - discrimination, bullying and harassment, and attitudes towards flexible working
• Progression and retention of women, and demonstrating competitive advantage through gender diversity in tech
• Improving the representation of women in senior leadership in the UK’s tech sector

The discussion in detail:

• education, skills and uptake of STEM subjects - priorities for the development of a diverse talent pipeline - looking at:
  
  • take-up - what more can be done to improve interest in STEM subjects at an early age
  • careers guidance - priorities and best practice in encouraging the uptake of STEM subjects at GCSE and A-Level
  • the tech sector - what more can be done to develop and foster links, particularly with secondary education
  • higher education - attracting a greater number of women into studying STEM subjects at an advanced level, and developing digital skills - including:
    
    • utilising professional support networks
    • industry, policy and educational initiatives
    • further work to encourage female STEM graduates to pursue careers in the tech sector
  • female diversity:
    
    • increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups to enter the digital and tech workforce
    • maximising the impact of the recent introduction of new AI and data science conversion courses, with 1,000 scholarships targeting female, black, and disabled applicants
  • the Lifetime Skills Guarantee scheme - announced by the Government, aiming to make education more accessible for all and to broaden opportunities for career progression
• tackling discrimination
  
  • workplace culture - what more needs to be done to address issues including:
    
    • attitudes towards flexible working and those with caring responsibilities
    • bullying, harassment, progression bias and wider discrimination towards women
  • gender pay gap - latest thinking on strategies and action for the UK tech sector and technology businesses and organisations:
    
    • progress - the effectiveness of measures taken up to this point in, including the impact of gender pay gap reporting measures as they are suspended for this year due to the pandemic
    • next steps - what more is needed to improve transparency and make further progress in ensuring gender pay parity
    • Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact - the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry, looking at factors ranging from pre-existing inequalities between men and women and the overrepresentation of women in certain types of work
  • career progression - latest thinking on strategies to increase and develop opportunities for advancement for women in the tech sector, and their full-career retention
• women in senior leadership positions - options for policy and industry action to increase gender diversity in senior leadership positions in the UK’s tech sector, including board membership:
  
  • mentoring programmes - and encouraging more prominent female role models, with the Hampton-Alexander Review finding women still under-represented in top jobs
  • gender diversity and competitive advantage - with research finding significantly higher levels of innovation in companies where men and women are treated most equally
• COVID-19 - the impact of the pandemic, and the resulting lockdown measures and economic disruption, on women in the UK’s tech sector:
  
  • unequal job security - with findings that women are more likely to be at laid off than men and to take on a greater childcare burden while continuing to work from home
  • slipping standards - recent research which found that organisations are set to put diversity and inclusion initiatives on hold while they respond to the pandemic
  • policy - assessing progress and effectiveness of established government plans for supporting women and those with caring responsibilities back into employment

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the DCMS; the Department for Transport; the Government Equalities Office; the Government Legal Department; HMPPS; the Department for the Economy NI; the UK Space Agency and the Welsh Government.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from companies across the technology and online services sectors and marketplaces, software development and consumer technology companies, fintech and digital banking, AI and quantum technology, data analytics and processing, high-value manufacturing industries, trade associations and professional bodies, equality and other advocacy groups, academics and commentators, consultants and financial analysts, and legal experts, together with reporters from the national and specialist media

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference is bringing together key stakeholders with policymakers, and will be an opportunity to examine latest developments in data protection regulation and practice in the UK, as well as to look ahead to the future of policy and implications of key changes with the approaching end of the Brexit transition period.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials who are due to attend from DCMS; the Cabinet Office; the ICO; BEIS; the Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation; the CMA; the CPS; Defra; DfE; the Department of Health, NI; DIT; DfT; DHSC; DWP; the FSA; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Government Banking; the Government Legal Department; Government Legal Profession; HMCTS; HMRC; HM Treasury; Home Office; MHCLG; the MOD; the MoJ; the SFO; the Welsh Revenue Authority; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.

The agenda:

• Regulation and enforcement in data protection - strategic aims and priorities going forward
• Developing and implementing sectoral codes of conduct
• Compliance, best practice and the experience of today’s data protection landscape across sectors in the UK economy
• Data protection in the UK post-Brexit - the Withdrawal Agreement, progress on an adequacy decision, and regulatory obligations for UK organisations after the end of the transition period
• The impact of COVID-19 - increased remote working, greater reliance of technology, and the data protection implications of contact-tracing

Areas for discussion:

• the UK’s regulatory framework, Brexit and wider international relationships:
  
  • remaining priorities - developing the UK’s post-Brexit data protection policy and regulatory frameworks
  • a UK-EU data adequacy agreement - progress and next steps, the impact of the UK-US data access agreement on negotiations, and the wider future for international data exchange
  • resolving potential conflicts - including between EU data protection regulation and UK domestic legislation such as the Investigatory Powers Act 2016
  • standard contractual clauses - their use for data transfers by UK businesses
  • GDPR:
    
    • interpretation - potential future divergence in between UK courts from the CJEU
    • implementation - with the requirement for UK organisations to comply with the GDPR for data processing taking place in the UK but pertaining to non-UK data subjects  
• compliance and key lessons learned from across the UK economy:
  
  • key sectors - the state of compliance, best practice and the experience of the data protection landscape across the UK economy, including finance, advertising, and online services
  • sector-specific codes of conduct - their development, and further unresolved issues and next steps for the ongoing implementation of GDPR in the UK
  • regulatory enforcement so far - actions under the GDPR, including penalties issued in relation to instances of data breaches - and the future approach to data protection enforcement
  • best practice - increasing privacy, trust and security on online platforms - including what lessons can be learned from the recent Twitter hack  
• COVID-19:
  
  • increased threats - implications emerging from the pandemic, including the impact of more remote working and a greater reliance on technology with varying levels of data security
  • data protection and the UK’s economic recovery - including by encouraging trust in areas such as public and commercial information
  • contact-tracing - latest on the NHS Test and Trace service, and the way that personal data is handled as the Government shifts strategy towards a decentralised approach, following recommendations by privacy experts and campaigners that this offers greater data security
  • data protection and privacy during a time of crisis - following parliamentary concerns raised with the Information Commissioner

Relevant developments:

• Government publishes new strategy to kickstart data revolution across the UK - launch of the Government’s wide-ranging National Data Strategy
• Machinery of Government - transfer to the Cabinet Office of responsibility for guiding the government’s use of data aimed at maximising the benefits in policymaking and service delivery
• Online harms and the ethics of data - the recently launched inquiry by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation
• Trust, Transparency and Technology: Building Data Policies for the Public Good - the Data Analytics APPG report calling for the Government to ensure that citizen’s rights are protected
• Cabinet Office Personal Data Protection Delivery Enhancement - the new programme aimed at improving control over private data, following recommendations in Building trust in digital government
• Accountability Framework - from the ICO with a focus on areas such as leadership, policies and procedures, training, transparency and data sharing, risks, record keeping and the response to issues
• UK transition from the EU - and questions over the future of international data sharing and protection
• the Regulatory Sandbox - the ICO initiative on supporting privacy and innovation, and delivery of new products and services with built-in data protections
• How we will regulate during coronavirus - the ICO’s focus on protecting public interest, facilitating responsible data sharing, and balancing privacy and innovation
• COVID-19 test and trace - ongoing developments across the UK nations regions of systems and technology to support tracking and containment of the pandemic

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by officials from DCMS; the Cabinet Office; the Information Commissioner's Office; BEIS; the Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Crown Prosecution Service; Defra; the Department for Education; the Department of Health, NI; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; DHSC; the DWP; the Food Standards Agency; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Government Banking; the Government Legal Department; Government Legal Profession; HM Courts and Tribunals Service; HM Revenue & Customs; HM Treasury; the Home Office; the Information Commissioner's Office; the MHCLG; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Justice; the Serious Fraud Office; the Welsh Revenue Authority; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as from the technology and telecoms industries, media businesses along with their suppliers and their advisors, digital platforms and other companies with a major presence online, digital marketing and advertising companies and trade bodies, businesses in the regulated industries, charities and third sector organisations, public services and public sector organisations that handle large volumes of personal data, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, legal and financial analysts, academics and commentators, together with reporters from the national and specialist media.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will examine the next steps for rolling out 5G networks and services in the UK.

The discussion is bringing stakeholders together with key policy officials who are due to attend from DCMS; BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the CMA; Ofcom; the MOD; Defra; DIT; DfT; HMRC; Home Office; the ICO; the Geospatial Commission; the Government Legal Department; the UK Space Agency; the National Crime Agency; NCSC; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

The discussion at a glance:

• addressing the challenges for rolling out 5G across the UK
• infrastructure and spectrum
• network security and future partnerships
• 5G markets, use cases and innovation priorities
• economic recovery - the potential role of 5G in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Areas for discussion in detail:

Rolling out 5G infrastructure and services

• technology partnerships - implications of the ban on the Huawei involvement in 5G development for the UK’s position as a leader in 5G, the cost of rollout delays, and new entrants and competition
• spectrum - the likely impact of Ofcom’s planned award in the 700MHz and 3.6 - 3.8GHz bands on the development of 5G services, with bidding expected to begin in early 2021
• efficiencies - opportunities for spectrum defragmentation while addressing concerns expressed in the telecoms sector
• coverage - the way forward for achieving broad-based 5G across the whole of the UK:
  
  • collaboration - the role of the devolved governments and local authorities
  • policy and regulation - what more may be needed to ensure that 5G networks achieve a high percentage of coverage by both population and geographic area
  • local solutions - the role that rural communities can play in building their own 5G networks, with the launch of the 5G New Thinking project
• the 5G Testbeds and Trials programme - latest developments:
  
  • funding - the announcement of a further £65m, including to encourage innovative use cases for 5G technologies across UK industries
  • the experience so far - what key lessons can be drawn

Network security

• international technology partnerships - the current position, and the future of supply arrangements for the UK’s future 5G networks
• In Search of Strategy - assessing the Defence Select Committee’s report into the security of the UK’s 5G network, high-risk vendors, and proposals alternative providers
• the technology itself - ensuring that expected security benefits of 5G are realised

The 5G services market

• B2B and B2C - strategies for marketing the offering for business and domestic users, and differential benefits compared to present-generation wireless networks
• customer priorities - assessing key factors for pricing, reliability, speed and security, and the extent to which 5G offers potential for improvement in these areas
• new entrants - what more needs to be done to support competition, innovation and opportunities for 5G businesses and suppliers of all scales in the market
• opportunities - research, development and investment priorities and the range of potential future use cases for 5G B2B and B2C applications

5G and UK economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic

• 5G’s role - the potential impact of improved and broadened digital and the UK’s economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic
• the experience so far - what can learned the role played by digital infrastructure, including mobile and wireless networks, in the immediate response to the pandemic
• the new normal - assessing the impact and permanence of changes in demand, including usage patterns, remote access and other uses of telecoms services associated services
• preparing for future opportunities - what more is needed in order to ensure that the infrastructure is in place and can adapt to market changes

The agenda:

• What has been learned so far from the testbeds and trials programme
• Tackling the key challenges for rolling out 5G across the UK, and examining lessons and outcomes from the testbeds and trials programme
• Priorities for securing the UK’s future 5G infrastructure
• The role of international partnerships in the development of UK 5G networks
• How can the response to the pandemic and trends that have emerged inform the UK's path to economic recovery? International lessons
• Key priorities for spectrum allocation - enabling the development of 5G going forward
• The future outlook for 5G markets, use cases and innovation

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved from the House of Commons, as well as by officials from DCMS; BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the CMA; Ofcom; the Ministry of Defence; Defra; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; HMRC; the Home Office; the Information Commissioner's Office; the Geospatial Commission; the Government Legal Department; the UK Space Agency; the National Crime Agency; NCSC; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

Overall, we expect delegates at this conference to be a senior and informed group including Members of both houses of Parliament and representatives from the EU as well as devolved and local government, departmental and regulatory officials, together with key stakeholders from the mobile, telecoms and technology sector, their advisors and suppliers, data professionals, technologists, consultants, lawyers, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, academics, educational and research institutions, and reporters from the national and specialist media.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will examine key current priorities for improving cyber security across the UK economy.

The discussion is bringing together stakeholders with key policy officials due to attend from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the National Cyber Security Centre; CIDD; HM Treasury; Home Office; the MOD; the NAO; Ofcom; DCMS; DIT; DHSC; DFT; the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Government Banking; the Government Legal Department; the HSE; HMRC; the UK Space Agency; The Scottish Government; the Welsh Government; and the Welsh Revenue Authority.

The discussion at a glance:

• support - what more is needed to help businesses and individuals to improve cyber security as they adapt to new ways of working, and assessing support already in place or being developed
• public and private sector collaboration - and the future of the Active Cyber Defence programme
• best practice - learning from international approaches to improving cyber resilience
• the changing political and diplomatic context - as the UK reconsiders international technology partnerships in the development of 5G, and negotiates future relationships with the EU
• COVID-19 - priorities for dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, with increases in remote working and the range of connected devices, and introduction of digital tracing technology

The agenda:

• Key policy priorities in cyber security - taking forward the incentives and regulation review and implementing Secure by Design
• The impact of COVID-19 on the global cyber security landscape
• What more is needed from policymakers, regulators and the private sector to improve cyber security and resilience across the wider economy as it recovers from the pandemic
• Developing collaboration between the public and private sectors in cyber security and the future role of the Active Cyber Defence programme
• Case study - learning from international approaches to improving cyber security resilience
• Cyber security as working patterns change - remote access, data storage, and user equipment and networks
• Enhancing the security of consumer devices
• The Parliamentary perspective - developing the UK’s strategic position with respect to cyber security

Relevant developments at a glance:

• Cyber security incentives & regulation review: government response to the call for evidence - and launch of Cyber Aware and the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) through the NCSC:
  
  • regulation and guidance
  • cyber skills and resources
  • effective incentives for business investment in cyber security infrastructure
  • managing an increasingly complex digital environment
• Proposals for regulating consumer smart product cyber security - call for views ­- with the Government now considering responses
• Active Cyber Defence (ACD) ­- the programme providing free tools and services for cyber protection for the public sector and higher education
• Government invests £10 million to help make future technologies more secure ­- with the winners of Digital Security by Design grant competition
• Nokia signs 5G deal to become BT’s largest infrastructure partner­ - the company’s announcement of its supply deal for 5G equipment for BT’s EE network, replacing Huawei
• Armed Forces announce launch of Cyber Regiment in major modernisation - to protect a number of defence networks in the UK and on overseas operations

The discussion in detail:

Policy and regulation

• Cyber Security Incentives & Regulation Review - assessing the findings of the consultation and implications for policy priorities going forward:
  
  • support - discussing measures already in place, and being planned and developed, to help organisations of all scales improve cybersecurity procedures and infrastructure
  • incentives - effective communication to organisations the commercial rationale for investment in cybersecurity, as well as actions to improve organisational capability
  • COVID-19 - priorities for clear guidance on best practice in managing risks with rapid adoption and increased reliance on digital technology during the pandemic
• Secure by Design - next steps for manufacturer practice regarding consumer IoT devices:
  
  • impact - protecting consumers, workability within the industry, and the long-term growth of the IoT
  • standards - next steps for development and coordinating approaches internationally
  • incentives and support - assessing options for further encouraging innovation and development
• partnerships and supply arrangements - assessing the future in light of UK transition from the UK and the Government’s ban on Huawei’s involvement in 5G development
• national defence - issues and further action on protecting critical infrastructure

COVID-19

• guidance - assessing initiatives from the UK government and agencies, as well as internationally, aimed at supporting businesses and individuals to improve their cyber security with increased pandemic-related malicious cyber activity
• reactivity - how the security of consumer devices can be improved whilst ensuring critical business functions remain operational without interruption, including with the increased reliance on video sharing platforms
• international coordination - progress and priorities in organisation, sharing best practice and action in sharing best practice, identifying fraudulent actors, and tackling rising cyber fraud and attacks

Cyber security across the breadth of the UK economy

• Cyber Aware - the impact of initiatives designed to help businesses prepare their staff for the scenario of a cyber-attack while they work from home
• SMEs - what further support for small and medium-sized enterprises might be required to enable them to adopt best practice in areas such as:
  
  • cyber incident response plans
  • strong cyber security culture in the workforce and processes
  • penetration and resilience testing
  • diversity and inclusion - in light of recent analysis undertaken by NCSC, in partnership with KPMG, which found that organisations often lack an inclusive workplace culture
• what good looks like - priorities for improving knowledge sharing and best practice in businesses, with findings that IT teams feel that they are not properly equipped to tackle the increased security and privacy concerns arising from remote working
• tools for businesses - the impact of the SERS and further options for support, particularly for small businesses with less bandwidth to deal with cyber threats
• sector-specific approaches - addressing shortfalls and requirements in areas of the economy of strategic importance including finance, healthcare, heat and power, and telecommunication networks

Public-private collaboration

• options for joint working - how more comprehensive connections could be developed between Government, public sector bodies, and the private and third sectors in the cyber security space
• the NCSC’s Active Cyber Defence programme - its ongoing and future role, options for broadening benefits beyond the public sector and HE, and the wider applicability and potential usefulness of active cyber defence principles
• Brexit - impact of any potential changes on the relationship with EU wide programmes as the transition period comes to an end

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Identity, and officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the National Cyber Security Centre; CIDD; DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the Department of Health and Social Care; the Department for Transport; the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Government Banking; the Government Legal Department; the Health and Safety Executive; HM Revenue & Customs; HM Treasury; the Home Office; the Ministry of Defence; the National Audit Office; Ofcom; the UK Space Agency; and The Scottish Government; the Welsh Government; and the Welsh Revenue Authority

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government and regulatory officials involved in this area of policy, as well as cyber security, technology and telecoms professionals, and those from the wider business community and the security and defence sector, advisors and suppliers, academics and educational institutions, training providers, recruitment and HR specialists, lawyers, analysts, industry bodies, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, and reporters from the national and specialist media.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference is bringing together key stakeholders with policymakers to examine the future of the commercial drone market.

The discussion at a glance:

• product innovation - including latest developments in commercial use cases, such as delivery, logistics and infrastructure surveying
• safety and risk mitigation - priorities for innovation, airspace integration and traffic management, and insurance
• regulation - the UK and European frameworks, issues and effectiveness, and enforcement powers
• support - what the sector needs most, including in terms of policy, funding, regulation, and in R&D
• engagement - increasing public trust in drones amongst the public, policymakers and elsewhere in business

The agenda:

• The future of commercial drone operations - latest developments in materials and technology, and current and future use cases for unmanned aircraft
• Next steps for developing regulatory frameworks for unmanned air operations in the UK - ensuring safety and enabling innovation
• Achieving the safe integration of drone operations in UK airspace
• Assessing and mitigating the key risks associated with drones and developing public trust - security, privacy and insurance
• Priorities for policy in the regulation of unmanned aircraft in the UK - key aims of the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill
• Case study: utilising the capability of drones in law enforcement and police operations

The discussion in detail:

The market

• potential growth areas - use cases for drones and aerial robotics technology being developed and rolled out across industry and public services
• innovation - examining advances in aerial robotics technology and their implications, including in batteries and motors, as well as control software and automation
• making drone usage routine - including increasing the availability of qualified pilots, and developing and maturing leasing and hiring arrangements

Regulation

• keeping pace - ensuring that policy and regulation can accommodate more sophisticated use cases for drones
  
  • for example tackling the real-time risk mitigation and notification requirements to enable complex operations such as drone swarms and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight

• airspace management - what more may be needed to enable routine drone flying in controlled and uncontrolled airspace
  
  • notification and clearance requirements
  • risk mitigation - priorities for creating equivalent to the see-and-avoid procedure used by manned aircraft
  • future proofing - preparing for possible advanced use cases such as the use of drones for logistics and parcel delivery
• standards - design and introduction of electronic conspicuity for commercial drones, and further potential measures to mitigate risk
• insurance - developments in products specified for the drone industry, looking at design and marketing, quantifying risk, and the potential for pay-as-you-fly

Enforcement

• effectiveness - impact of measures in the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill including greater enforcement powers for police forces in tackling negligent or malicious drone flying
• next steps - the UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy and further options for policy to tackle illegal drone flying and the misuse of drones

Trust and sector support

• research and development - what more is needed from policymakers and regulators to support the development of drone technologies in the UK
• engagement strategies - priorities for increasing trust in drones and counteracting negative public perceptions, within the public, regulators and policymakers, and with partners and other sectors

Developments that are relevant to the discussion:

• Unlocking the Power of Location: The UK’s geospatial strategy 2020 to 2025 - the Government and Geospatial Commission identifying the potential of drones to contribute to optimisation of logistics worth £2bn per year, with possibilities such as using satellite tracing to calculate single-flight drone insurance premiums
• the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill - currently before Parliament
• the UK Drones Pathfinder programme - funding for the programme on integration of drones in UK airspace is to be extended through to 2021
• European drones regulation - the new European drone rules drawn up by European Union Aviation Safety Agency, scheduled for December 2020
• UK regulatory developments:
  
  • the UK Drone and model aircraft registration and education service and introduction of mandatory drone registration
  • the CAA Drone and Model Aircraft Code
  • the UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy
• COVID-19 - drones playing a role during the crisis:
  
  • monitoring and enforcement - of social distancing measures
  • emergency logistics - with discussion around the potential to support authorities, for example in aiding diagnoses and the transfer of key supplies
  • funding - backing for new trials from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

There is particularly strong interest in this conference. Places have been reserved by officials from BEIS; the Department for Transport; the Home Office; the Ministry of Defence; HM Treasury; the DCMS; the Defence Airspace and Air Traffic Management; the Military Aviation Authority Defence Safety Agency; the Department for International Trade; the European Space Agency; the UK Space Agency; the Department of Health and Social Care; the Geospatial Commission; the Government Legal Department; the Government Legal Profession; GCHQ; HM Revenue & Customs; the Health and Safety Executive; the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Marine Scotland; the National Crime Agency; and the Welsh Government.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference will consider the way forward for UK digital economy.

Discussion will focus on the priorities for policy and regulation to support a dynamic market that works for the sector, consumers and the wider economy.

The agenda also looks at options for the remit and powers of a new Digital Markets Unit to address digital competition issues put forward in last year’s Unlocking digital competition Furman Review.

The discussion at a glance:

• the Digital Markets Unit - implementing the Furman Review proposal of the new body
• international policy and regulation - latest developments and their impact on digital markets in the UK, and on multinational engagement and coordination of regulatory initiatives
• UK regulation - the evolving role of the CMA in this area, as well as the regulatory tools available the Authority and priorities as the UK negotiates its future trading relationship with the EU
• the digital economy market - looking forward:
  
  • key trends in M&A - the impact on competition, consumer choice and pace of innovation of acquisition of tech start-ups by larger online platforms and big tech companies
  • barriers to entry - faced by prospective market entrants
• the digital advertising market - including how consumer data is collected and handled - and the impact of many of the large companies owning companies along the value chain
• COVID-19 - the short and long term impacts of the pandemic on markets and competition, looking at consumer behaviour, business supply chains, and the regulatory environment

A scan of relevant background and developments:

As well as the Furman Review, the discussion takes place in the context of:

• the CMA COVID-19 taskforce established to spot the emergence of harmful sales and pricing practices, issue warnings and take enforcement action, and advise government on how competition law might need to adapt during the crisis
• How should competition policy react to coronavirus? - the CMA Chairman’s report published by the IPPR on the potential contribution of competition policy to economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic
• the CMA’s digital markets strategy and Online platforms and digital advertising market study, which calls for the Government to introduce a new pro-competition regulatory regime to monitor major platforms funded by digital advertising
• the new Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum - which brings together the CMA, the ICO, and Ofcom to support the coordination of regulatory approaches in online services
• Digital Markets Taskforce - Calls for evidence from the CMA-led body commissioned by government to advise on the design and implementation of pro-competitive measures for digital markets
• Closer to consumers - competition and consumer protection for the 2020s - the Chief Executive of the CMA outlining how its approach to regulation is evolving
• Online advertising - the DCMS review of regulation
• Zero rate of VAT for electronic publications - announced in the budget earlier this year and brought forward as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
• Digital Services Tax - a 2% tax on the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users being introduced in the UK -
• Smart Data Review - proposals around increasing interoperability and transferability of consumer data across a range of sectors
• EU competition law - market definition notice - the European Commission’s consultation aimed at ensuring competition laws are fit for the digital age

The agenda:

• Competition and regulation in the digital space - the current state of play and key developments
• Assessing competition in the digital economy
• Addressing competition issues in digital markets - innovation, consumer benefit, and the future regulatory framework
• Key regulatory priorities - the evolving role of the CMA in taking forward the digital markets strategy
• Next steps for policy - international engagement, developing the digital markets unit, and taking forward the review of online advertising regulation
• Competition in digital advertising - the market position of online platforms, the impact of consolidation in the value chain, and the utilisation and handling of consumer data

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

This conference looks no different. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament, and officials from the Cabinet Office; the Competition & Markets Authority; HM Treasury; BEIS; the DCMS; Ofcom; the National Audit Office; the Government Legal Department; the Government Legal Profession; the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation; the Department for Transport; DWP; the Information Commissioner's Office; the Intellectual Property Office; and the Welsh Government.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference focuses on AI technologies in the UK, bringing together sector leaders and other key stakeholders with policymakers in parliament, and across government and regulation.

The discussion at a glance:

Latest developments and priorities going forward for:

• supporting the UK’s commercial AI sector
• putting in place data standards and infrastructure
• addressing key ethical issues

We also expect discussion on the contribution of AI to the work going on to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be learned and taken forward from the response of the sector in areas such as responsiveness, agility and collaboration.

Relevant developments at a glance:

• policy - the AI Sector Deal and the government’s National Data Strategy
• guidance - from the OAI, GDS, IOC, and Adam Turing Institute on using AI in the public sector, explaining decisions made using AI to those affected, and an organisational AI auditing framework
• the Open Data Institute’s three pilot data trust projects last year
• CDEI analysis:
  
  • priority areas for potential benefit from AI - including social media moderation, fraud detection, clinical diagnosis support, and the finance and insurance sectors
  • risks - including algorithmic bias, lack of clarity and understanding over algorithmic decision making, and lack of consent around data collection and use
  • uptake drivers - including increasing public trust through greater transparency around AI and data use, and improving the quality and availability of data
• skills and the talent pipeline:
  
  • the Centres for Doctoral Training programme, new places on AI and data science conversion courses, and government proposals for immigration policy
  • AI Skills in the UK -  a recent Microsoft report with international comparisons finding the UK falling behind in AI maturity, skills and adoption levels, leading to higher failure rate in AI projects

The discussion in detail:

Data protection, transparency, trust and tackling bias

• personal data and privacy - mitigating potential risks associated with AI across the public and private sectors
• data sets - increasing their availability for use in AI development:
  
  • personal data such as healthcare records - as well as systems data
  • balancing openness with ethical and privacy considerations
• transparency - in AI-driven decision-making, and how it can best be achieved
• bias in algorithmic decision-making - and how to address its replication when data sets are re-used, particularly in perpetuating racial stereotypes
• the data trust concept - how it might be rolled out across further use cases and sectors of the economy

Infrastructure for AI

• putting in place the data infrastructure necessary to support the development of AI technologies in the UK
• securing the availability of large, high-quality and consistently-formatted data sets

R&D in the UK

• funding for research and development in the UK - including from public sector to support research in UK universities and other institutions
• collaboration between universities and commercial organisations - the way forward for its development
• university start-up incubator programmes - their future role
• commercialising academic research in AI - and developing business models

Skills, education and the talent pipeline

• progress - looking at the Centres for Doctoral Training programme, as well as the delivery of AI Masters courses
• overseas and UK talent - recruitment and retention, including the potential implications of the Government’s proposals for the future immigration system
• diversity - key priorities for the UK’s tech sector

Key considerations for public-sector bodies

• transparency
• accountability
• recognising the present limitations of the technology

Developing the UK’s commercial AI sector

• start-ups and scale-ups - driving investment, and what more is needed from policymakers and public sector bodies, as well as from investors and venture capital firms
• funding sources - increasing their availability and diversity, and better connecting them with AI ventures
• priorities for AI start-ups themselves - in developing their attractiveness and viability as investment prospects
• business support - increasing the availability of resources for UK AI ventures

COVID-19

• What can be learned for the development of the sector from the role of AI in the response, including in: contact-tracing and developing mobile applications, predictive computer models and developing responses both in the UK and internationally

The agenda:

• Developing the UK’s AI sector - progress so far and next steps for policy
• Addressing key ethical concerns around artificial intelligence:
  
  • Auditing the handling and use of data in AI development and assessing the key implications for privacy and data protection
  • Latest thinking on AI opportunities and risks
  • Key legal and regulatory implications of the widespread uptake of AI technologies
  • Increasing opportunities for under-represented groups in the AI and digital workforce
• Research and development in AI technologies in the UK - funding, collaboration between universities and industry, and the talent pipeline
• Funding and investment in AI start-ups and scale-ups in the UK
• Priorities for developing the UK’s commercial AI sector

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

Interest from government is particularly strong for this conference. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; HM Treasury; the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation; DCMS; CIDD; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the Department of Health and Social Care; DFID; the DWP; the Food Standards Agency; GCHQ; HMCTS; HM Revenue & Customs; the Home Office; the Intellectual Property Office; the Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; MHCLG; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Justice; the National Audit Office; the National Crime Agency; the National Cyber Security Centre; Ofcom; the Office for Life Sciences; The Scottish Government; the UK Space Agency and the Welsh Government.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference will discuss the way forward for implementing and rolling out the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme - aiming to achieve 95% 4G coverage by land area in the UK by 2025.

The discussion at a glance:

• progress so far
• remaining challenges
• potential impact on rural businesses, services and communities

The discussion in detail:

• collaboration - progress, remaining issues and next steps in developing commercial partnerships between the MNOs, including terms for access to existing infrastructure
• funding - how it should be prioritised and geographically directed, and the relationship between commercial and public-sector funding for the SRN
• barriers - addressing practical issues facing rollout of infrastructure for the SRN on the timescales set out by the Government, including:
  
  • access to land in order to place key network infrastructure
  • the potential impact on the SRN programme of proposed access rights measure in the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill, currently before Parliament
• procurement - how contracts for infrastructure construction and placement will be tendered for and awarded, and the breadth and openness of competition in delivering the network
• coverage obligations - including rollout commitments, and any further regulatory interventions that might be needed to drive the rollout of mobile coverage in rural areas across the UK
• joined-up development - complementarity between the SRN and other programmes to increase the quality and breadth of mobile coverage in rural areas - such as the Scottish 4G Infill Programme
• impact - maximising the potential of the SRN for the UK’s rural economies including wider improvements to rural public services
• local engagement - the future role for local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and other local stakeholder groups in delivering the SRN and its benefits
• COVID-19:
  
  • what has been learned - from the use of mobile technology during the pandemic
  • the new normal - what changes in demand and usage patterns are likely to remain embedded going forward
  • economic recovery - the impact of good quality mobile coverage in helping organisations to restart and maintain operations as restrictions are lifted

The background to the discussion:

• COVID-19 - the use of mobile networks during the pandemic highlighting the importance of connectivity for health and social care, social contact, learning and work
• Government response to the consultation on proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage - measures to enable taller and wider masts, location nearer highways, and faster rollout of other infrastructure
• New law changes to bring better connectivity to the UK:
  
  • the European Electronic Communications Code coming into UK law to encourage gigabit broadband rollout in new, hard-to-reach areas
  • extending Ofcom powers to gather information and report back on progress in this area
• £1bn deal to end poor rural mobile coverage agreed, involving:
  
  • the four UK MNOs - committing £532m towards developing the SRN with measures including upgrading existing infrastructure and construction of new phone masts
  • the Government - procviding a further £500m to tackle total not-spots
• Mobile coverage obligations - legally-binding coverage commitments agreed by the four MNOs for each UK nation after four and six years from the start of the SRN programme
• The National Infrastructure Strategy - expected later this year, which will outline government plans on core economic infrastructure, including how to deliver digital networks

The agenda:

• Getting SRN over the line - the End of the Beginning
• Rural coverage in Scotland - progress made so far on the Scottish 4G Infill Programme and the deployment lessons learnt to date
• Improving telecoms infrastructure throughout the UK - what lessons can be learned from continental Europe? - with Alfonso Alvarez, Managing Director, Cellnex UK
• Assessing the wider impact of increased connectivity in rural areas - developing the rural economy and supporting communities and services
• Next steps for partnerships and collaboration within the industry and more widely
• Key priorities for the Shared Rural Network
• Implementing the SRN programme - infrastructure rollout, tackling partial and total ‘not-spots’, and the role for the UK’s wider telecoms industry in building the network

Policy officials attending:

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and by officials from the DCMS; BEIS; the Home Office; the Department for International Trade; Defra; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Government Legal Department; the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; the Ministry of Defence; the National Audit Office; The Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference