Cambridge Tech Week 2026 will gather more than 100 technology leaders across five days this September, marking the event’s largest lineup to date.
From September 14-18, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and technologists will wrestle with a central question under this year’s banner, “How Deep Tech Changes the World.” The programme pushes beyond simple tech demonstrations, asking who controls emerging technologies, who funds them, who powers them, and who decides the rules.
Speakers at Cambridge Tech Week 2026 include BenevolentAI founder Kenneth Mulvany, quantum pioneer Sir Peter Knight, LiFi creator Professor Harald Haas, Balderton Capital’s Suranga Chandratillake, and entrepreneur Sherry Coutu CBE, among others.
**Showcase Cambridge**
The opening day spotlights the city’s technology ecosystem and its standing in the global innovation race. Phil O’Donovan, co-founder of Cambridge Silicon Radio, delivers the opening keynote. His company became one of the region’s defining semiconductor success stories.
Tuesday shifts focus to the infrastructure shaping the next decade. Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero at Octopus Energy Group, leads a global conversation on how AI, compute, connectivity, and infrastructure will reshape economies.
Professor Harald Haas also appears Tuesday. His LiFi technology uses light rather than radio waves to transmit data, a concept he brought to global attention through his 2011 TED Talk. He now joins a panel chaired by Dame Hayaatun Sillem on building the next deep tech platforms between 2026 and 2030.
**Startup to Scaleup Day**
Wednesday tackles a persistent British problem: producing world-class science but failing to build global technology giants. Suranga Chandratillake brings direct experience, having founded Cambridge-based blinkx, taken it through international expansion and a London listing, before moving into venture capital at Balderton.
Tom Adeyoola, executive chair of Innovate UK, joins the discussion. He founded fashion-tech company Metail before taking on the challenge of strengthening Britain’s ability to turn innovation into globally competitive businesses.
**Innovation Alley and Deep Dives**
Across Tuesday and Wednesday, Innovation Alley showcases emerging technology companies. HMGCC serves as headline sponsor for Startup to Scaleup Day, with AWS as Gold Sponsor.
Thursday splits into two specialist tracks: Med Tech & Health Tech and Quantum & AI. Professor Shafi Ahmed opens the health programme, while Sir Peter Knight brings authority to the quantum discussions, examining the journey from proof of concept to real deployment.
The provocative Big Tech Debate returns Thursday evening, asking whether the line between civilian and defence innovation has become unsustainable as AI, drones, and quantum technologies increasingly emerge from commercial companies. The day closes with a Gala Drinks Reception co-sponsored by NatWest and Coutts.
In-person and virtual tickets remain available, with the Virtual Pass covering live streams of the main programme days.
