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UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Tuesday 11 July 2017
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}


UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Thursday 19 October 2017
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Thursday 25 January 2018
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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0

UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Thursday 19 April 2018
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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0

UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Thursday 12 July 2018
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Plenary Meeting

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0

UK Spectrum Policy Forumuk spectrum policy forum5

Date: Thursday 18 October 2018
Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (followed by refreshments) 
Registration from 13:30
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London EC4A 4AD

Speakers to be confirmed

 ________________________________________

Please remember that the techUK Conference Suite is wireless enabled so you can network, catch-up on emails and do your 'last minute' calls, with full access to printing and refreshments before and after the meeting.

Attendance is by invitation only - if necessary, seats are available on a first come first served basis and we reserve the right to limit to one delegate per company.

For further information please contact:

{bio}raj.sivalingam@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

SmarterUK Celebrates First Birthday and Looks to the Future

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SmarterUK celebrated its first birthday last week with Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and leaders of the industry in smart infrastructure. Hosted by the Digital Catapult and sponsored by 4D Data Centres, guests celebrated inroads made during the last year and looked ahead to what will be an exciting twelve months.

SmarterUK, a techUK smart infrastructure initiative, is the UK’s only body that brings together the entire smart value chain. Split across three work streams that focus on cities and communities, transport and utilities it is untied by the belief that the coming together of the internet of things, big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence will help transform how services are delivered in these areas.

The past 12 months has seen SmarterUK build on the excellent work of the existing smart energy programme, with in-depth workshops on smart metering and smart power/smart energy policy now led by DBEIS. We have also built partnerships with local authorities and smart city projects across the UK, several of which were there on the day to celebrate our joint achievements. And, we have been exploring where UK tech companies can play a role in cyber security across smart infrastructure and the introduction of connected and autonomous vehicles.

Working with Government and industry, over the next twelve months, we will continue to champion the opportunities in smart infrastructure deployment in the UK and to companies involved in the sector abroad.

To find out more about SmarterUK and to get involved please contact

{bio}matthew.evans@techuk.org{/bio}

{bio}aimee.betts-charalambous@techuk.org{/bio}

 

Is the UK’s AI future already here?

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On 31st October techUK brought together a panel of experts to share their visions of what the UK's Artificial Intelligence driven future will look like and the opportunities that this future might offer.

Kicking off the discussion Alan Mak MP outlined the positive role AI has to play across the economy, society and government works and highlighted that the UK is poised to be a world leader in the new AI economy. He argued that AI could not just create new jobs but new industries as part of the UK's Fourth Industrial Revolution. He explained that these issues will be explored further in a 4IR policy report to be launched on the 14 November at the House of Commons.

Andrew Burgess from Celaton agreed that there are many opportunities and outlined his vision of a future where AI should be driven by the UK rather than the UK being driven by AI.

Professor Luciano, University of Oxford, outlined opportunities that could exist for the use of AI to drive design and innovation but highlighted the importance of thinking more strategically and planning ahead as AI technologies develop.

In setting out his vision of an AI future Joe Lyske, Time Machine Capital, argued that AI is not the UK's future but is actually already around us every day. He suggested we should be considering the challenges and ethical issues surrounding what we currently cannot do, which should be the focus of AI going forward.

Following introductory comments from our experts, a panel discussion took place. Issues raised included the importance of developing partnerships, particularly between industry and academia, as to how AI technologies will be used and secured in the home and the need to address legal and ethical questions. The importance of transparency and accountability as AI technologies develop and mature was also discussed.

This session was just the beginning of techUK's work on the value, benefits, opportunities and challenges facing the UK's development and adoption of AI. Further sessions are being planned throughout 2017. Members interested in becoming involved in techUK's AI activities should contact Sue Daley.


What will be the UK’s “Redlines” in its Brexit negotiations on digital issues?

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Date: Wednesday 16 November 2016
Time: 17:00 - 19:30 (Prompt Start 17:30)
Location: 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DA

Hosted by Frontier Economics

Click here to download the registration form or contact Shermin Ali at s.ali@iicom.org for further information.

What would be the ‘right’ scenario – or negotiating objective - for Britain in the Digital Single Market initiative and for its digital economy more widely post the referendum?

Now that dust has somewhat settled, and a new government is in place, we can start looking into what Brexit means for the UK and its digital policy. There are many questions and concerns, but there may also be (many?) potential positives, if we can identify and seize the right opportunities. These various considerations should inform the UK’s stance to digital matters as it negotiates its exit from the European Union over the next two-plus years, once the now-famous Article 50 is triggered.

There are many, wide-ranging questions when it comes to determining what should be the best stance, initially for the UK’s negotiating strategy for Brexit, then for its longer term approach to digital economy policies and legislation once outside the EU. This IIC event will help us delve deeper into the issues and start forming a clearer idea of what the options may be.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

  • Charlotte Holloway, Associate Director of Policy, techUK
  • Fabio Colasanti, Board Member, RAI Way; former President, International Institute of Communications
  • George Houpis (DR), Director, Frontier Economics
  • Lorna Woods, Professor of Media Law, Essex University
  • Malcolm Harbour (CBE), Member of Council, University of Birmingham

Policy Pulse | Your weekly update on tech and digital policy

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As the Government looks set to favour a sector-by-sector approach to Brexit negotiations, techUK continues to make the case for why backing digital and tech are key for the future of the UK. Today, the Chancellor announces a pioneering £1.9bn Cyber Security Strategy; and there's a formal challenge to the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement. It's been a busy week so get your weekly tech digest below.

You can sign up here for future editions of the Policy Pulse direct to your inbox.


Top Tech Policy News

techUK CEO says access to talent high priority for any tech-specific deal (FT £)
Julian David discusses key priorities for a tech deal following Business Secretary's announcements on Nissan.

Chancellor launches National Cyber Security Strategy (BBC)
Pioneering £1.9 billion programme to boost skills and technologies to make UK a world leader in cutting-edge cyber security.

Brexit risks 60% drop in service sector exports (FT £)
As Q3 GDP growth is driven by services, a new report suggests.


techUK Action & Reaction

Digital skills must be at heart of industrial strategy (New Statesman)
Julian David tells Digital Minister lifelong learning vital for inclusion and prosperity as digitisation is ongoing process.

techUK Brexit panel raises the roof (techUK)
Stellar panel session at Parliament & Internet Conference turns lively as many Brexit questions remain unanswered.

SmarterUK celebrates one year with Matt Hancock MP (techUK)
Digital Minister backs smart future with anniversary of major smart value chain initiative.

We can only win if we fight online abuse together (techUK)
Government, industry and civil society must work in harmony says Deputy CEO on expert panel with Maria Miller MP.

Alan Mak MP talks Artificial Intelligence with techUK (techUK)
Our recent AI event concludes UK must reap benefits of AI to drive forward the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Is the Digital Single Market heading off track? (techUK)
techUK argues DSM is becoming more protectionist and favouring incumbents over innovators.


Brexit Bulletin & Brussels Bulletin

New poll shows 20% of EEA workers plan to leave UK in next two years (FT £)
FT survey finds some concern in tech with highest fears for job security in construction, retail and hospitality.

Digital Rights Ireland launches EU-US Privacy Shield challenge (Reuters)
Group says new agreement lacks adequate privacy protections following its successful challenge of former Safe Harbour regime.

Don't tweet this: Commission copyright plans significantly extend user liability (Politico)
User generated content could violate copyright rules in Commission’s latest reform package.

Handy checklist of what Government needs to do before triggering Article 50 (Institute for Government)


More News & Comments

Uber ruling raises questions for disruptive business models (Telegraph)

Patent translator flies artificial intelligence flag for public sector (FT £)

Rise of tech-enabled services means countries need strong TiSA to halt digital protectionism and boost productivity (ITIF)


Upcoming Events - View full events calendar

Nov 09 - Supercharging the Digital Economy

Nov 10 - Digital Devolution: Powering Public Services Reform

Nov 16 - What will be the UK’s “Redlines” in its Brexit negotiations on digital issues?

Nov 17 - 2016 UK Internet Governance Forum - Brexit: What next for UK internet Policy


As ever, please get in touch with the team and let us know if there are topics you'd like us to include, leave out, or talk about. We really do like feedback!

{bio}tom.morrison-bell@techuk.org{/bio}

Supercharging: 3 ways the gig economy is affecting tech

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Countless elements of our everyday lives have been transformed by technology. It’s making us more productive and more collaborative. It’s changing how we communicate and how we manage our time. And it’s creating new business opportunities that would have seemed impossible in the not-too-distant past.

These technological revolutions have allowed the gig economy to thrive. With new digital platforms emerging every week, traditional full-time employment is not the only realistic option for the masses anymore. 15% of the UK workforce is already self-employed and - with the higher pay and increased flexibility this way of working offers - it seems inevitable that this will rise.

Technology is at the core of every venture made in the gig economy. So it’s almost poetic that the tables are now turning. Not only is technology impacting on what’s possible in the gig economy; but the gig economy is impacting on the world of tech too.

 

Let’s take a look at three examples of the changes tech employers now face, as a result of the gig economy:

 

1. Pay is on the rise

People with in-demand tech skills don’t have to be shackled to a desk five days a week anymore. The gig economy has given them the power to choose how, where and when they want to work. They’re in the driving seat. So much so, that it comes as no surprise that they’re demanding a higher pay packet and their ideal projects too. In fact, our recent Tech Cities Job Watch report found that average IT contractor day rates have grown at double the rate of permanent salaries since 2015.

Contrary to popular opinion, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for employers. While they may face a larger payroll, recruiting a contractor creates cost savings in other areas – such as capital costs and employee benefits. For maximum success though, it’s important that they choose the individual with the right skills to support the business objectives .

 

2. Demand for tech contractors is increasing

With more and more in-demand tech professionals going freelance in the gig economy, it comes as no surprise that employer demand for contractors is increasing too. As well as securing highly desirable skills, employers also benefit from increased flexibility and fresh perspectives.

Our research found that employer demand for contractors has grown by 2.23% in the last year – outstripping demand for permanent workers. However, saavy employers aren’t giving all of their most innovative digital initiatives to contractors to deliver – they’re using them to train their permanent workforce. As a result, they’ll be better equipped to meet strategic business goals in the long-term.

 

3. The gig economy is changing the skills gap

In today’s gig economy, in-demand tech professionals are increasingly moving away from permanent, full-time work. As a result, the organisations that want to recruit them have to move away from this employment model too, and turn to the contractor market in order to plug their skills gap.

The traditional make-up of the ‘IT department’ is going through a period of unprecedented change, in no small part because of the gig economy. However, while it’s vital that contingent workers continue to deliver short-term change, leaders also need to consider who will sit at the boardroom table in ten years’ time; contribute ideas on how IT can support future transformation; bring innovative projects to fruition; and enable business growth and a competitive edge.

 

Read more in Experis’ Tech Cities Job Watch Q2 2016 report.

techUK submission to Lords Committee Inquiry on Children and the Internet

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techUK's recently submitted evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications’ inquiry on Children and Internet is now available.

The Committee aims to investigate the changing role that the internet plays in the lives of children and young people, examining the concerns, as well as the possible benefits, presented by the changing relationship between children and the internet; and investigating how policies and practices might increase the value of the internet for children.

techUK’s response highlighted four key aspects of the technology industry’s work to protect children and young people online:

  • The online world offers opportunities for children and young people to learn, create and communicate. Children’s use of technology can be beneficial for digital skills, and can have a positive impact upon their future, career, and life skills. Recent reports published by the Family Online Safety Institute and Ofcom's 2016 Communications Market Report identifies that children’s use of technology can be beneficial for digital skills, and can have a positive impact upon their future, career, and life skills. Indeed, the recent A-Level results revealed an increase in students taking computing, and the number of students studying computing GCSEs has increased by 76 percent to 62,500 entrants.
  • Technical solutions are available to help parents keep their children safe online. Parental controls and family friendly network level filtering are easily available by the four main Internet Service Providers to help parents manage and keep their children safer online. Parental controls are also built into devices (e.g. Xbox, PlayStation, iPhones and iPads) and some online services have developed specialised products for children and young people to ensure that that age appropriate content environment is maintained.
  • Education and outreach play a critical role in creating a safe internet environment for children. Technology companies work in collaboration with NGOs and other organisations to enhance the confidence and resilience of parents and children and build a culture of tech literacy. A number of resources are available such as Vodafone’s Digital Parenting Magazine, BT’s collaboration with UNICEF UK enabling the delivery of a programme of online safety workshops, and Google's Internet Legends programme, which are aimed at enhancing the confidence and resilience of parents and children in dealing with age inappropriate material.

 

 

techUK’s full submission can be downloaded below.

This response was developed through the techUK Child Online Safety Group.


For further information is available on techUK’s Child Online Safety activities.

Internet Watch Foundation Image Hash List awarded 'Innovation of 2016'

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cloudhostingawardswinner web

The IWF Image Hash List (Global Release) has been recognised as 'Innovation of 2016' at the 2016 Cloud Hosting Awards

A ‘hash’ is a unique code that is generated from the data in an image. This groundbreaking safety product helps to speed up the identification and removal of child sexual abuse content on industry platforms and services worldwide, and prevent people from sharing or uploading these images.

The IWF and Microsoft have recently teamed up to make it easier for companies to use the Image Hash List through a cloud-based delivery solution. Microsoft PhotoDNA has been an industry standard since 2009 and companies previously had to integrate hashes internally, often incurring high costs due to extensive engineering. This cloud-based solution allows proactive monitoring of a company’s platform to be more accessible for smaller industry members, enabling companies to compare anything from a single image to the millions of images uploaded through their platforms daily.

The Hash List was originally rolled out across IWF Members Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter in 2015. It has been created through a unique collaboration of the IWF and the UK police Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) database. The two lists of confirmed child sexual abuse images have been re-assessed by IWF analysts to the IWF high standard. Each image is categorised and therefore a final Image Hash List can be tailored to a company’s or country’s needs. Today the Image Hash List service is being rolled out to industry members and can be used by any company that allows people to upload or download images, store, host, process images, or offer filtering solutions.

The IWF has recently marked its 20th Anniversary as a charity and self-regulatory body set up in 1996 by the online industry which works internationally to help remove online child sexual abuse imagery.


Further information is available on techUK’s Child Online Safety activities and Cloud, Big Data, and Analytics Programme.

{bio}skye.macleod@techuk.org{/bio}

European Cyber Security Initiative Workshop

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It is nearly 4 months since the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) was established at the request of the European Commission. This is an industry-led, not for profit, membership legal entity established to implement a cyber security contractual Public Private Partnership (cPPP). One of ECSO’s principal aims is to develop the cybersecurity market in Europe and the growth of a competitive cybersecurity and ICT industry, with an increased market position for European industry.

Activity has begun already to propose strategic research and innovation priorities for cyber security (with funding from H2020); to look at Standardisation, Certification / Labelling and supply chain management; to consider ways to support cyber SMEs and the cyber security ecosystem in Europe including clusters.

Involvement by UK industry and other organisations is low. Very few UK companies and institutions are members of ECSO meaning other countries are now influencing decisions that will potentially affect us without us having much input.

Luigi Rebuffi, the founder and now Secretary General of ECSO, will explain the structure of ECSO, provide more of an insight into the work now underway and planned and explain how you can get involved. Other speakers include:

Stephen Rhodes, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Kevin Jones, Airbus

Agenda

10.00 - Introductions (techUK)

10.05 - Government view (Stephen Rhodes, DCMS)

10.10 - Purpose of the cPPP and ECSO activities (Luigi Rebuffi, ESO)

10.35 - View from the industry (Kevin Jones, Airbus)

11.00 - Open questions

11.30 - Close

New Report Warns Police About Chronic Digital Skills Gap

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Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has warned that police forces are in danger of being overwhelmed by the vast quantities of digital evidence they are required to deal with. HMIC specifically highlighted the digital skills gap the many forces face, which can lead to significant delays in gathering and processing digital evidence.

In more and more cases police officers are required to gather evidence from digital devices such as, and HMIC found examples of this process taking weeks and months, due to the fact that many forces have a "significant gap" in digital skills. They warned that these delays could allow criminals to continue offending, as well as being potentially distressing for the victims.

Police are facing an enormous challenge when it comes to handling digital evidence, and the key to meeting this challenge successfully is forming fruitful and productive partnerships between policing, industry, and academia.

Responding to the HMIC report, techUK's Programme Manager for Justice & Emergency Services, Henry Rex, said:

"The nature of crime is changing, and changing fast. The exponential increase in digital and cyber crime means forces must urgently develop new skills and capabilities to tackle modern crime and identify perpetrators with speed. It is critical police forces develop a robust plan for identifying and addressing skills gap within forces. The tech industry stands ready to work in partnership with the police to ensure they have the appropriate resources, capabilities and digital skills to implement such a plan to combat crime in this digital age.

We know this is a challenge not only common to the Police, but across the public sector, as its grapples with reform and digital transformation. Industry, Government and Law Enforcement Agencies must continue to work together to ensure we are able to best serve the public."

{bio}henry.rex@techuk.org{/bio}

 


A “jargon buster” for today’s marketing terminology

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As marketing evolves, new words appear. Before long, they become common language in marketing circles. However, there are now so many specialist areas in marketing that even marketing people can get confused by terminology!

 

The techUK Marketing and Sales Group have put together a glossary of terms and acronyms that are commonly used in marketing today, from AB Testing to XML; via CTA, LTV, MQL and SEM; including Drip Marketing, Responsive Design, Social Proof and many, many more. Download your copy now and keep it beside you when you next have a meeting with marketing colleagues. You need never be confused again!

 

UK Spectrum Policy Forum - Cluster 2 Meeting Notes

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Date: Friday 28 October 2016
Venue: techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Chair: Peter Curnow-Ford, UK SPF Cluster 2 Chair and Director, Plasma Antennas Limited

Presentations from the Cluster 2 meeting are embedded below to allow better access via mobile and tablet, they can also be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Agenda:

Introduction

    • Peter Curnow-Ford (Chair of Spectrum Access and Use, UK SPF)


3.6 - 3.8GHz Consultation

  • Ofcom - Cristina Data
3.8 - 4.2GHz Applications and Demand
 
  • Introduction - Peter Curnow-Ford
  • Ofcom Overview of Last Consultation and Results - Cristina Data
  • Satellite FSS – Mohaned Jawad, Intelsat

 

  • Satellite – Mike Walsh, Arqiva

 

  • GSA - Joe Barret


  • Fixed Wireless - UKB, Louise Lancaster (Questions only)
  • Mobile - Alessandro Casagni, Huawei
  • Dynamic Spectrum Alliance – Simon Saunders, Google

Panel Q&A

AOB & Close


Cluster 2 has the goal to capture current and future Use requirements for spectrum [as apart from the Applications and Demand for spectrum] and to enable understanding and discussion around the current and future proposed methods of Access to spectrum. The strategy has been defined and accepted as:

  1. Review primary Access mechanisms
  2. Review approaches to spectrum awards
  3. Understand primary and secondary uses of spectrum
  4. Review new 'sharing' approaches
  5. Leverage Cluster 1 and 3 input
  6. Recommend 'new/changed methods' to Government, Ofcom and Internationally

For further details, get in touch:

{bio}Julian.McGougan@techuk.org{/bio}

Watch the Recording from techUK Briefing on Delivering Better Care through Tech

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techUK hosted an event with councils leaders and tech industry on how we can overcome the procurement obstacles to work collaboratively to deliver better care through tech; adopt new models in care and explore a whole place approach.

Below you can find the presentation as well as recording from the event.

 

Commit to making a difference by addressing the future skills gap

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You are invited to the launch of the SThree Foundation in collaboration with Generating Genius.

SThree in collaboration with Generating Genius has committed to working together to address the talent pipeline in the STEM industries (Science Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Come along to this event to find out what we’re doing and how you can help close the gap between talent and opportunity - by doing something as simple as hosting a one week STEM insight placement!

The skills shortage will have an impact on all of us and we need to act now to ensure we identify the key talent of tomorrow. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we make career opportunities available to diverse talent for innovation and sustainable growth and to help change young lives towards
positive destinations.

At the event you will hear keynote talks from Gary Elden OBE, SThree CEO and Tony Sewell CBE, Founder and CEO of Generating Genius, followed by a panel discussion with Q&A including young people.

Please stay on for canapés, soft drinks and networking.

If you are able to attend, please click here to email Marie Broad, SThree Head of CSR.


{bio}doniya.soni@techuk.org{/bio}

 

Initial Thoughts on the Defence Innovation Initiative

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On Friday 16 September Secretary of State Michael Fallon announced the launch of MOD’s Defence Innovation Initiative. MOD’s approach to innovation has been a hot topic of conversation for our community throughout 2016 in particular. The Strategic Defence & Security Review 2015 (SDSR) highlighted a wide range of opportunities and risks that will require innovative thinking in the coming years. From the technological challenges of countering the cyber threat to issues of IP protection and contracting with SMEs, there are myriad issues that require both new ways of thinking and new technologies.

The Defence Innovation Initiative (techUK will refrain from calling it DII until someone else does) is the first post-SDSR step of many that attempts to bring industry and government closer together to meet the challenges of innovation. Detailed information about the Initiative can be found here, and it is well worth reading.

There are many opportunities to exploit through the Initiative, however those leading the work must be constantly cognisant of the traditional barriers that impede progress in this area. Long standing issues such as ownership of background intellectual property, as well as ideas and SMEs falling foul of the ‘valley of death’ (the stage at which a partially developed and funded technology fails to find an end customer and thus completely stops) have the potential to halt any innovation work from really taking off.

It is vital that the new structures and processes work to support and bolster the existing innovation activities throughout MOD and related parts of government. As noted above there are many areas of both government and industry, including techUK, currently active in the ‘innovation’ space. Although there are many actors who all bring different skills, expertise, networks and connections to the picture it is currently a congested landscape that actively puts off new entrants from engaging with Defence. The Initiative must have a consolidation function and act as a single point of truth for all forms of defence innovation, from process and organisational to technological innovation.

Through various meetings, workshops, briefings, and conversations with MOD techUK is convinced this is a serious endeavour to improve the situation in the long term. It is evident that the early steps taken do indeed pull from adjacent markets, non-traditional suppliers, and out-of-the-box thinking. What is needed now is evidence of rubber hitting the road and demonstrable buy-in from budget holders and the Frontline Commands (FLC).

techUK will be addressing the issues around this Innovation Initiative in the coming weeks, looking at considerations such as risk ownership and valuation, intellectual property rights, and the attractiveness of UK defence as a market. You can find links to all the associated articles here and this page will continue to be updates as they are posted.

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