Category: Events

UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign are planning to run the inaugural UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit alongside London Tech Week in 2026. This event will mark the end of the Pilot phase of the Campaign and the beginning of its scaling to a national initiative.

The two-day Global R&D Summit will be hosted at The Royal Society and showcase to a global audience the extraordinary wealth of science, research and innovation investment and partnership opportunities available right across the UK. Taking place alongside London Tech Week, the UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit:

  • will provide the UK with a global event that leverages our global reputation for scientific excellence in order to engage the world’s top 200 investors in R&D, global patient capital and major industrial partners who invest in science, research and innovation.
  • will feature the first whole ‘UK Innovation House’ at The Royal Society providing Mayors and Devolved Nations with dedicated ‘Embassy’ space to showcase opportunities and strengths from their places during London Tech Week.
  • will host the inaugural ‘UK Unicorn Reception’ held to convene and celebrate the achievements of UK and UK alumni who have founded $1bn valuation companies around the world.

 

Visit the UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit website

 

Greater Together LA

‘Greater Together LA’ (May 2026) is an ambitious programme of business and cultural activity. It will celebrate the creativity and innovation that US-UK partnerships have already achieved, while paving the way for future collaboration driving mutual prosperity for both nations.

An unprecedented delegation of UK and US C-Suite leaders, visionary founders and global decision-makers will come together in one of the most iconic cities, located in California – the fourth largest economy globally.

The programme includes a thought-leadership summit and VIP networking events, as well as music, cultural and sporting events across the city. Attendees will discover how the US and the UK can collaborate to tackle tomorrow’s greatest challenges while boosting investment, trade and cultural exchange between our nations.

Visit the full Greater Together website here: https://greatcampaign.com/greater-together/

 

USA East Coast

The Mayors of the East Midlands and North East of England are due to be in Boston (Harvard University) in April 2026 for the final part of the Bloomberg Mayoral Development programme. Following a scoping mission in July 2025, both Mayors are seeking to collaborate on a short inward investment mission in both Boston and Washington DC to promote a portfolio of high-value opportunities backed by the UK Government in their regions.

The Mayors will be working in collaboration with the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign, a pilot initiative co-funded by DSIT and UKRI that seeks to leverage the global connections of UK universities (starting initially in the Midlands, but potentially expanding to a UK-wide programme) to drive inward investment. 

USA East Cost - Mission Cover

View the Mission Call

SXSW 2026

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will lead a return delegation of senior university leaders and regional partners to SXSW 2026.  

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a major international festival and conference held each March in Austin, Texas, bringing together technology, music, film, television, and culture alongside leading global brands such as Nike, Adidas, and others that use the event to showcase innovation and connect with emerging talent.   

The mission will focus on Sport and CreaTech as well as the application of AI to these fields and other relevant SXSW sectors. It aims to build on existing relationships from last year’s attendance and looks to engage new US partnerships that have evolved since last year.   

View the Mission Call

MIPIM 2026

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will return to MIPIM in Cannes, France in March 2026 with a delegation of senior academic and regional leaders.

MIPIM is the world’s leading global real estate event – influencing and accelerating the transformation of the built environment by crafting a unique, week-long urban festival in Cannes, with face-to-face discussions, workshops and panels offering inspiration, thought-leadership while creating opportunties to exchange experiences and drive business growth.

View the Mission Call

 

Learn more about MIPIM –  one of the largest real-estate events in the world

Australia 2026

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will be leading a major mission to parts of Australia, including Cnberra, Sydney and Melbourne. This mission will aligned with Universities Australia activity in Canberra and have a focus on AUKUS, Aussie Supers, Midlands Mindforge and Agri-Tech. As part of this mission we will:

  • Celebrate and strengthen the connections between our institutions, Australian university partners, and key industrial stakeholders operating across both the UK and Australia.  
  • Explore shared priorities for defence, connect Australian alumni in key sectors and venture capital with our university investment opportunities. 
  • Advance the role of universities in ‘sub-national diplomacy’ between cities/ States/ regions and form innovation bridges through partnership working with each other, industry and civic partners.  
  • Explore alignment with emerging Australia-UK science and innovation collaboration.  

 

View the Mission Call

 

 

Get Involved

Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.

 

 

Berlin Science Week, Falling Walls 2025

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will be attending Berlin Science Week, Falling Walls between 7th and 10th November 2025. As part of this mission we will:

  • Celebrate and strengthen the connections between our institutions, German university partners, and key industrial stakeholders operating across both the UK and Germany.  
  • Explore shared priorities for FP10 (particularly Pillar II), connect German alumni in key sectors and venture capital with our university investment opportunities. 
  • Advance the role of universities in ‘sub-national diplomacy’ between cities/ States/ regions and form innovation bridges through partnership working with each other, industry and civic partners.  
  • Explore alignment with emerging German-UK science and innovation collaboration.  

 

View the Mission Call

Falling Walls Science Summit is a leading international and intersectoral forum, held annuly in Berlin, that conves global leaders across science, industry, policy and media to explore scientific breakthroughs and break down barriers in science and innovation.  

The Falling Walls Science Summit 2025 will take place from 6th – 9th November 2025 at the Falling Walls Science House, Karl-Marx-Alle 34, 10178 Berlin. 

 

Get Involved

Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.

 

 

SWITCH, Singapore 2025

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will return to SWITCH in Singapore this October 2025, building on the success of 2024’s inaugural visit. 

SWITCH is Singapore’s premiere science, innovation and technology event – attended by over 22,000 industry leaders, national governments and investors from all the world.  

The mission is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the British High Commission in Singapore, UKRI, Innovate UK, the West Midlands Growth Company. 

2025 is Singapore’s 60th anniversary, and this mission will also celebrate 60 years of UK-Singapore collaboration. 

 

View the Mission Call

The Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) is Singapore’s flagship event for science, innovation, and technology. Held annually at Marina Bay Sands, SWITCH brings together global leaders from government, academia, research, investment, and industry to explore and advance the latest developments in tech and innovation. 

As a national milestone event, SWITCH serves as a platform for: 

  • Major announcements and activations from Singaporean government agencies, research funders, and universities 
  • International collaboration between countries, research agencies, and corporates 
  • Slingshot Prize, Asia’s premier tech startup competition, which culminates at SWITCH (the campaign has secured up to 5 ‘fast track’ entries for Midlands spinouts) 
  • Participation from global investors, multinational corporates, and innovation agencies 

SWITCH is co-organised by Enterprise Singapore and supported by a wide range of partners across sectors including advanced manufacturing, health and biomedical sciences, energy, AI, and future mobility. 

🔗 More information: www.switchsg.org 

 

Get Involved

Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.

 

 

Birmingham Tech Week 2025

The Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign will be running various activities as part of Birmingham Tech Week in 2025. 

The Birmingham Tech Week Mission is being scheduled to take place alongside the UK’s first ever Regional Investment Summit – West Midlands 2025, which will be hosted by Birmingham on 21st October and will attended by the UK Government’s most senior representatives as well international investors from across the world. 

View the Mission Call

Birmingham Tech Week is the UK’s largest regional tech festival — bringing together innovators, founders, investors, public sector leaders, and global partners and attracting over 8,000 attendees and featured 50+ curated events.

 

Get Involved

Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.

South Korea & Japan 2025

The Campaign will be leading a delegation to South Korea and Japan between 1st – 12th October 2025.

A series of activations will take place across both countries, with delegates encouraged to participate in the activities most aligned with their interests and expertise, as well as organising their own additions.  

This is a multi-sector, multi-market mission covering a number of large target conferences as well as critical diplomatic opportunities (including the Seoul Embassy, Kyoto Science and Technology in Society Forum, Osaka World Expo, BioJapan (Yokohama) and the Tokyo Embassy). 

View the Mission Call

 

 

UK-Japan Funding Opportunities

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-japan-science-and-innovation-funding-opportunities/uk-japan-science-and-innovation-funding-opportunities

 

Conferences

Science and Technology in Society forum is an annual conference held at the Kyoto International Conference Center, bringing together global leaders in academia, industry, government to discuss issues related to science and technology and their implications for society. 

The 22nd Annual Meeting will be held on October 5, 6 and 7, 2025 in Kyoto, Japan.

 


Osaka World Expo, an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world in an effort to address issues facing humankind on a global scale. 

The theme of the 2025 Expo is Designing Future Society for Our Lives. 184 days from April 13 to October 13, 2025. Venue: Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan.

 


BIOJapan 2025 is taking place at Pacifico in Yokohama with 700 exhibitors and 16K visitors. There are three main programs: The exhibition, seminars and partnering. 

This is Asia’s largest partnering event containing three exhibitions 

  1. The world’s oldest biotechnology exhibition “BioJapan” 
  2. “Regenerative Medicine JAPAN” accelerating and industrialising R&D in regenerative medicine

3.”health TECH JAPAN” covering digital technology and life science. 

 

 

Get Involved

Please select a Mission Point of Contact for you institution and email invest@midlandsinnovation.org.uk to register for the weekly Mission Development meetings.