Tech and Innovation: Year in review 2024
2024 was a year where technological breakthroughs brought generative AI, Quantum, web3 and automation technologies to the apex of public imagination and elevated UK science, technology and innovation to the forefront of UK policy.
techUK continued to focus on the opportunities of adopting and applying innovation to help people, society, the economy and the planet. Below is a roundup of our work in AI, Digital Ethics, Cloud, Emerging Technologies, Quantum, Digital ID, and Semiconductors.
AI: We launched our new AI Adoption Hub, a comprehensive one-stop-shop for own and member AI adoption activities from across sectors. Complementing this, we created the AI Adoption Case Study Collection and the impactful AI Campaign Week (9–13 September 2024), highlight real-world examples of how organisations are developing models for clients or integrating AI into their operations. To foster collaboration, we established the AI Adoption Working Group, and techUK’s new AI and Data Analytics Leadership Committee, providing members with a forum to discuss AI opportunities and ways for industries to engage with the Government on AI adoption.
Digital Ethics: In 2024, techUK's digital ethics programming was focused on demystifying and operationalising digital ethics through assurance mechanisms and standards, while the AI safety programming helped members navigate the AI safety landscape. Key AI safety deliverables included pre-Seoul Summit engagement with the Secretary of State and 18 case studies (6 on safety, 9 on inclusion, and 3 on innovation), alongside established calls with the AI Safety Institute. Digital ethics highlights included the Decoding Digital Ethics webinar series with 6 sessions, the sold-out eighth annual Digital Ethics Summit, quarterly Digital Ethics working groups, 2 Digital Ethics unconferences (techUK’s first), embedding ‘ethics days’ in the digital ID and AI campaign weeks, 1 paper and established calls with the Responsible Technology Adoption Unit.
Cloud: Cloud Week 2024 saw the most community engagement of any techUK campaign week, with news, views and insights on how cloud computing continues to reshape how we live and work. This year members contributed some excellent insights on digital transformation and business productivity, cloud modernisation in the public sector, sustainability, multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud, and the role of cloud in accelerating innovation through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Catch up on everything from 2024
Emerging technologies/ Innovation Hub: This year saw techUK continue with the Unleashing Innovation emerging technologies campaign – this included the Innovation hub where we continue to showcase the potential of emerging technologies, convening key stakeholders and shaping innovation policy. This included our annual campaign week and summit – all of which you can view on the Innovation Hub here and all videos of the summit are available here . On top of these flagship activities, we hosted an extra 19 events supporting the tech sector on everything from Robotics to XR, and published two Emerging Tech reports on the future of Space (March) and Gaming & Esports (November) technologies. These were launched at Harwell Space Cluster and The National Video Game Museum. This year’s six Meet the Innovators episodes have accumulated 5,500+ insight views and 30,000+ online impressions while the Institutions of Innovation series has featured the likes of Innovate UK, ARIA and the RHC. After the Gaming & Esports campaign, techUK explored the future of Web3 & Immersive tech and it will soon do the same across Robotics & Automation
Quantum: techUK has continued to be the championing voice for the UK quantum sector. This year, techUK became a founding member and industry chair of the Responsible Quantum Industry Forum a group set up to enable organisations in the responsible development and use of quantum technologies, building on shared principles, by providing a venue for sharing best practices and lessons learnt in operationalising responsible quantum. We published our set of principles that you can view here. We also led the discussion on quantum resiliency, publishing this practical paper on what the quantum security threat really means for businesses, in simple terms. Building relationships with key government stakeholders was also a top priority, which is why we are delighted to lead RQIF with the NQCC, sit on the Quantum Skills taskforce with DSIT, and have hosted roundtables for DSIT on the quantum missions. Finally, we also continued our quantum readiness series, with events on quantum in transport, financial services and more, that you can view here
Digital ID: In 2024, Digital ID policy has been led by the Data (Use and Access) Bill currently going through Parliament. We have been a voice for our members on this, regularly convening digital ID members with OfDIA in the Digital ID Working Group, and advocating for our members. Please reach out if you would like to learn more specifically about this. Furthermore, the Digital ID programme hosted three webinars, focusing on the benefits of ID verification in Retail, cyber security and financial fraud. This convened leading organisations and experts, to discuss how Digital ID can improve the efficiency, trust and security of our daily digital interactions. These themes were also explored in our Campaign Week, #UnlockingDigitalID in which 25 organisations showcased their innovative thought leadership in Digital ID. Finally, our programme also hosted a Digital ID Half Day Summit, in which we were joined by co-chair of the Digital ID APPG, Baroness Uddin, and DSIT’s Hannah Rutter. This half day contained two panels in which we explored the industry and policy future for Digital ID. To stay up to date and find out more about our 2024 and 2025 work, please see our Digital ID hub here
Semiconductors: techUK have continued to champion the UK semiconductor industry, starting in January of this year when we had Minister Bhatti join the first meeting of the Chips Coalition. Later that year, after the election, we were delighted that Minister Vallance was able to join a roundtable with our semiconductor members to underscore the importance of semiconductors in the new Government’s policy, including the Industrial Strategy. We advocated for UK Government to announce the National Semiconductor Institute in this open letter, and will continue to advocate for this in 2025 under the new government. Alongside this, we have hosted events on the semiconductor sector, most recently this roundtable on semiconductor scale ups. These events and more will help shape our updated UK plan for Chips policy report, coming early 2025.
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
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Sprint Campaigns
techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.
Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).
Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK.
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Report
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Event round-ups
Guest insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
Tess Buckley
Rory Daniels
Laura Foster
Sue Daley OBE
Elis Thomas
Usman Ikhlaq
Harriet Allen
Tess Buckley
Tess is the Programme Manager for Digital Ethics and AI Safety at techUK.
Prior to techUK Tess worked as an AI Ethics Analyst, which revolved around the first dataset on Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR), and then later the development of a large language model focused on answering ESG questions for Chief Sustainability Officers. Alongside other responsibilities, she distributed the dataset on CDR to investors who wanted to further understand the digital risks of their portfolio, she drew narratives and patterns from the data, and collaborate with leading institutes to support academics in AI ethics. She has authored articles for outlets such as ESG Investor, Montreal AI Ethics Institute, The FinTech Times, and Finance Digest. Covered topics like CDR, AI ethics, and tech governance, leveraging company insights to contribute valuable industry perspectives. Tess is Vice Chair of the YNG Technology Group at YPO, an AI Literacy Advisor at Humans for AI, a Trustworthy AI Researcher at Z-Inspection Trustworthy AI Labs and an Ambassador for AboutFace.
Tess holds a MA in Philosophy and AI from Northeastern University London, where she specialised in biotechnologies and ableism, following a BA from McGill University where she joint-majored in International Development and Philosophy, minoring in communications. Tess’s primary research interests include AI literacy, AI music systems, the impact of AI on disability rights and the portrayal of AI in media (narratives). In particular, Tess seeks to operationalise AI ethics and use philosophical principles to make emerging technologies explainable, and ethical.
Outside of work Tess enjoys kickboxing, ballet, crochet and jazz music.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- tessbuckley.me
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesssbuckley/
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Sue Daley OBE
Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.
This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy.
In 2025, Sue was honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Technology Industry in the New Year Honours List.
She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame.
A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK, Sue was co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum until July 2024. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.
Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2055
- Twitter:
- @ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue
Elis Thomas
Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on AI, Semiconductors and Digital ID.
He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.
Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elis-thomas-49a1aa1a1/
Usman Ikhlaq
Usman joined techUK in January 2024 as Programme Manager for Artificial Intelligence.
His role is to help techUK members of all sizes and across all sectors to adopt AI at scale. This includes identifying the barriers to adoption, considering solutions and how best to maximise AI's potential.
Prior to joining techUK, Usman worked as a policy, government affairs and public affairs professional in the advertising sector. He has also worked in sales and marketing and FinTech.
Usman is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc), BPP Law School (GDL and LLB) and Queen Mary University of London (BA).
When he isn’t working, Usman enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also has a keen interest in running, reading and travelling.
