Positioning the UK for Success: How the CEO of ARIA can drive forward innovation for the tech sector

On 17 June techUK’s policy, tech & Innovation team will be bringing together innovators and industry leaders from across the technology sector to explore what the tech sector believe ARIA needs to achieve ambitious, research and technology goals set by the UK Government. 

This event will focus on what the core objectives of the new CEO should be to ensure ARIA is a transformative power on the UK’s innovation landscape 

Why is this important? 

In March 2021 the Government announced the creation of the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA). ARIA will be a new independent research body that aims to fund transformational scientific research in the UK with a focus on high-risk, high-reward projects.  

Headed by leading scientists and innovators, ARIA’s leadership will backed by an £800 million investment from the UK Government and will be given the flexibility and independence from Government to use their knowledge and expertise to identify and back ambitious, research and technology challenges. Able to partner with businesses and academia the agency could have a transformative impact on the UK’s innovation landscape.  

ARIA’s CEO will be central to the agencies initial projects and will become a major player in the UK’s discussion on technology and innovation when appointed.  

At this event techUK will discuss with our members and members of the tech and innovation community what should be in the new CEO’s in-tray, what technologies and challenges present the greatest opportunities for the UK and how do we make sure ARIA is a success.   

The discussion will include speakers from the leading technology companies as well experts from the UK’s tech and innovation community.  

You can read up on techUK’s response to AIRA here 

Please do reach out if you would like to get involved in techUK’s tech & innovation work 

Neil Ross

Associate Director, Policy, techUK

As Associate Director for Policy Neil leads on techUK's public policy work in the UK. In this role he regularly engages with UK and Devolved Government Ministers, senior civil servants and members of the UK’s Parliaments aiming to make the UK the best place to start, scale and develop a tech business.

Neil joined techUK in 2019 to lead on techUK’s input into the UK-EU Brexit trade deal negotiations and economic policy. Alongside his role leading techUK's public policy work Neil also acts as a spokesperson for techUK often appearing in the media and providing evidence to a range of Parliamentary committees.

In 2023 Neil was listed by the Politico newspaper as one of the '20 people who matter in UK tech' and has regularly been cited as a key industry figure shaping UK tech policy. 

Email:

[email protected]

Twitter:

@neil13r

Website:

www.techuk.org/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilross13/

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Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

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

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