Event

Creating a Scientific Superpower 2026

03 Jun 2026 8:15am - 5:00pm QEII Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London SW1P 3EE

Brought to you by the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference is back for its fifth year.

Jun 2026

Time:

8:15am - 5:00pm

Address:

QEII Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London SW1P 3EE

Now in its fifth year, the Creating a Scientific Superpower Conference returns as a flagship event for leaders shaping the future of UK science, innovation and economic growth.

Hosted by the Oxford–Cambridge Supercluster, the conference brings together senior figures from government, industry, academia and investment to explore how the UK can maximise its potential as a globally competitive scientific powerhouse.

Eighteen months into Government’s Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor programme, this year’s conference marks a transition, from commitment and ambition to delivery and momentum. What was once a bold vision for transforming the region into a global innovation powerhouse is now moving firmly into implementation.

With a level of government backing and clear intervention to unlock growth, the systems to invest, locate, scale and collaborate across the Corridor are becoming clearer, faster and more effective, enabling the UK to compete globally from a position of strength.

Now is the time for leaders across science, technology, investment, development, and government to come together, to align ambition with action, strengthen collaboration and accelerate delivery.

Register your place now

Registrations for Creating a Scientific Superpower Conference 2026 conference are now open. Register your place today.

Agenda
Speakers
Event Photos

08:15 - 09:00

Registration and Breakfast Networking

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome and Opening Remarks

09:10 - 09:30

Keynote – Delivering the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor

Speaker: Lord Vallance, Minister for Science

09:30 - 10:10

Panel Discussion: Why Global Investors Are Committing to OxCam

Speakers:

Lord Jason Stockwood, Minister of State for Investment
Lisa Flashner, COO, Ellison Institute of Technology
Paul Weston, Senior Vice President, Prologis

Chair: Richard Todd, Head of Built Environment, Bidwells

10:10 - 10:40

Networking Break

10:40 - 11:20

Panel Discussion - Turning Growth Ambition into Delivery

Speakers:

Professor Irene Tracey CBE, Vice Chancellor. University of Oxford
Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice Chancellor, University of Cambridge
Peter Freeman, Chair, Cambridge Growth Company
Neale Coleman, Chair, Oxford Growth Commission

Chair: Dr Andy Williams, Chair, Supercluster Board

11:20 - 12:00

Connecting OxCam and the Northern Arc

Speakers:

Tom Riordan, Envoy for Northern Growth
Steve Rotherham, Mayor, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Chair: Dr Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director, Innovate Cambridge

12:00 - 12:45

Lunch and Networking

12:45 - 13:05

Keynote: From Cambridge to Global Scale - The Arm Journey

Speaker: Paul Williamson, SVP Strategic Ventures, Arm

13:05 - 13:45

Panel Discussion: Building Global Businesses from OxCam

Speakers:

Francis Van Parys, CEO, Oxford Nanopore
Carolyn Esser, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Darktrace
Alistair Milnes, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Bicycle Therapeutics
Jeremy Griggs, Executive Director – Business Development, GSK

Chair: Jim Stretton, Managing Director, Harwell Campus & ARC

13:45 - 14:25

Panel Discussion: From Breakthrough to Industry

Speakers:

David Moore, CEO, Pragmatic Semicondcutor
Dr Rachael Hazael, Founder and CTO, Blast EcoShield
Simon Thomas, CEO and Co-Founder, Paragraf
Aidan Crawley. Co-Founder & CEO, Amber Therapautics

Chair: Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE, CEO & Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University

14:25 - 14:50

Afternoon Break

14:50 - 15:30

Panel Discussion: Global Partnerships to Accelerate Growth

Speakers:

Shaun Grady, UK Chair, AstraZeneca
Mr. Li Yantao, Deputy Director, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area
Lord Ed Vaizey, Chair, UK-ASEAN Business Council

Chair: Sharon Todd, Chief Executive, Society of Chemical Industry

15:30 - 15:40

Closing Keynote: A Moment of Opportunity

15:50 - 16:00

Closing Remarks

Summarising the day and key takeaways

16:00 - 17:00

Networking Drinks Hosted by EIT