Westminster eForum

This timely conference will examine next steps for developing ‘smart city’ solutions that address local needs - taking account of local strategic and user priorities, relationships between local government commissioning and the supply chain, and developing standards and learning from best practice.

It takes place in the context of an investment and policy focus on digital infrastructure and its role in economic growth - including support for future investment in 5G technology following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the development of a National Geospatial Strategy with a focus on how geospatial data can be used to transform public services and support the UK’s productivity, and the Mayor of London’s Smarter London Together plan to position London at forefront of intelligent innovation.

It also take place in light of the Government’s drive to coordinate initiatives for improving wellbeing and tackling social issues such as loneliness, supporting mental and physical health, and incentivising environmental stewardship.

Delegates will discuss latest thinking on smart cities design and delivery - including how cities might more effectively articulate their needs to the supply chain, addressing sustainability issues, understanding and incorporating innovation in applications and issues around open data, data management and analysis.

They will also consider what lessons can be learnt from existing smart cities around collaboration, funding, and citizen and stakeholder engagement, as well as examine priorities for the creation and adoption of standards to enable the roll-out of smart cities across the UK, focusing on interoperability and system integration, sustainability and best practice.

The agenda also looks at what is needed in policy development, regulation and leadership, including around investment, addressing procurement issues, improving access to data and supporting collaboration.

This conference will bring together policymakers, regulators and stakeholders to consider the next steps for the development of the UK mobile market.

The seminar takes place as the Government consults on its Statement of Strategic Priorities - following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review last year - which would require Ofcom to take account of priorities such as improving mobile coverage in rural areas and major roads, tackling the ‘loyalty penalty’, considering options to introduce mobile roaming in rural areas, and supporting investment in reliable, fast broadband.

In the context of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, delegates will discuss the optimal shape of the policy and regulatory framework to support competition, the achievement of coverage targets, sector confidence and investment, and the development of 5G technologies and networks.

They will assess developing market dynamics and what they mean for individual players in the industry, their customers and overall sector growth - looking at M&A and consolidation, developments in services and devices, convergence and access to infrastructure, priorities for attracting and directing investment, opportunities for collaboration, and the scope for trans-border networks.

Attendees will also discuss the practicalities of putting 5G into practice - examining what has been learnt from the testbeds and trials programme and looking at issues for wider rollout - including planning, licensing and engineering challenges, funding, and building public and private partnerships.

Further sessions will bring out latest thinking on demand for 5G - including services needed by consumers and businesses, how best to meet increasing demands on data networks and for online services, and analysing the potential of applications across public and private services for providing cost-effective services, to drive productivity and efficiency. 

This conference examined the experience of regulators and industry since the implementation of GDPR - including lessons learnt, and the implications for business practice and the regulatory framework going forward.

Discussion focused on the impact of the new regulatory framework - with its emphasis on transparency and accountability - on organisational practice and individual citizens, and on the relationships between businesses and consumers, as well as new thinking on strategies and best practice for data processing.

Sessions brought out case studies from the regulatory process in practice, highlighted uncertainties and anomalies, considered examples of intervention or enforcement, and assessed further areas for regulatory adjustment and development.

There was also discussion reflecting the international perspective, including the future of co-operation between data protection authorities in the UK and the EU and of alignment with EU data protection standards.

This timely conference considered developments in the monetisation of digital content including latest thinking on trends, challenges and strategies - and options for policy and industry in developing fair and sustainable systems of value exchange.

Delegates discussed latest industry practice in content monetisation - including strategic approaches across sectors and genres and the factors underlying them - as well as developments in collaboration and competition, and the impact on content creators, consumers and audiences.

Taking place in the context of the European Parliament vote to approve the proposed Copyright Directive, as well as further policy developments in the UK and internationally, sessions focused on the implications for platforms and publishers, and the future for value exchange and remuneration for creators and IP owners - as well as further options for intervention.

Areas for discussion included:

• Learning from advertising-based, subscription and hybrid monetisation models being pursued across sectors, platforms and categories of content;
• Developments in policy around copyright, data usage and protection;
• Emerging collaborative models and the future of value exchange between online platforms and creators;
• Latest thinking on regulation and policy in the UK, across Europe and more widely; and
• The particular challenges facing the news media industry, in the context of the government’s review on the sustainability of local media.

This timely seminar brought together key policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the next steps in the UK’s AI policy.

It took place in the context of the Government’s ambition for the UK to be a world leader on AI, and plans for investment in skills, infrastructure and research, as well as new finance for start-ups and scale-ups, as well as support for creating ‘clusters’ of AI-focused businesses across the country outlined in the AI Sector Deal, and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Grand Challenge in the Industrial Strategy.

Areas of discussion included:

• Research and innovation - opportunities and practical next steps for the Government, research councils, universities and businesses to collaborate;
• Infrastructure - developing data infrastructure, the Government’s proposals for ‘Data Trusts’, and 5G, fibre broadband and shared access to ‘supercomputer’ facilities;
• Investment - priorities for business and the Government in encouraging private patient capital and other forms of support for start-ups and AI ‘clusters’;
• Ethics - latest thinking on designing and regulating a fit-for-purpose ethical framework for the use of AI and the data upon which it relies; and
• - the likely impact of the new AI Masters programmes and AI Centres for Doctoral Training, emanating from the Sector Deal, and preparing the current and future workforce for an increasingly-automated world.

This timely seminar considered the future for how data is used in the digital economy, in the context of the UK government and the EU developing major policies on consumer protection and privacy.

It was set against the backdrop of major developments in UK policy, including the new Digital Services Tax as well as the Smart Data review and the announcement of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.

It also took place in the context of further policy developments in the UK and across Europe - including a call for evidence from an independent panel appointed to examine competition in the UK Digital Economy, the ongoing implementation of GDPR, and with the EU moving forward with the ePrivacy Regulation.

Following the announcement of the CMA’s investigation into the ‘loyalty penalty’ super-complaint brought by Citizen’s Advice, and research on consumer targeting through personalised pricing and search results commissioned jointly by BEIS and the CMA, discussion brought out latest thinking on consumer protection in relation to data, and how businesses can best navigate the fast-evolving regulatory landscape and develop sustainable models for best practice.

Delegates also considered the latest developments and innovations in the treatment, handling and utilisation of data - looking at the future for digital marketing, AI, data analytics, and the personalisation of online offers and search engine results.

This timely conference examined latest progress and next steps for attracting and retaining women across the technology sector, and supporting their progression.

Delegates assessed priorities for the development of a diverse talent pipeline - looking at what more might be done to address barriers to entry, encourage more women to study STEM, and improve links between education, policy and industry.

They also considered the business case for gender diversity, including the future role of women in the development of cutting-edge technologies and driving the UK’s international competitiveness.

Further sessions examined issues around recruitment, career progression and equal pay, and discussed wider challenges regarding workplace culture - including improving transparency, enhancing employer engagement, encouraging mentoring and network initiatives, and establishing conducive working environments for all. 

This timely conference was an opportunity to discuss the findings of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review and consider the way ahead for the development of the UK’s digital infrastructure.

On the day, policymakers and industry stakeholders discussed what the Review will mean for competition, the structure of the telecommunications market, and future investment.

They explored next steps for meeting targets laid out for the wide-scale deployment of full fibre and 5G networks, and examined issues around the potential disruption and practical challenges for rolling out at speed.

Also taking place in light of the publication of the National Infrastructure Commission’s National Infrastructure Assessment, the seminar considered the role of digital infrastructure in boosting the UK’s productivity and economic growth - including looking at issues around business connectivity.

Further sessions assessed the ability of different areas of the UK to support competition and considered the extent to which the policy and regulatory intervention outlined in the Review meets the future needs of the sector and the public - including what further measures might be needed to deliver and support the optimal market structures for encouraging long-term investment.