The first East Midlands Tech Week took place at venues across the region from 15th to 18th June 2026, offering delegates panel discussions, workshops, presentations and the chance to network with like-minded business leaders.
The four-day event was held at major venues in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester with topics ranging from the region’s brightest university spin-outs, unlocking the power of AI for automation and female leaders in tech.
Highlights included looking at the potential of STEP Fusion – the work going on in the region to use nuclear fusion to produce clean, green energy – as well as opportunities within the regional defence cluster and UK energy policy.
Day one included an investment show for businesses looking at funding opportunities for R&D, tech and innovation while day two included the Energy Research Accelerator UK Energy Innovation Expo 2026. Both took place at Vaillant Live, Derby.
Day three moved to Nottingham and focused on women in tech, while day four saw two events in Leicester – a med tech conference on the University of Leicester campus, followed by a data and space tech event at Space Park Leicester.
The Chamber was a champion partner of the week, with Chief Executive Scott Knowles hosting a Derby panel on tech infrastructure investment.
Speakers at the med-tech event in Leicester included Dr Lucy Alexander, Head of Innovation Programmes and Strategic Development at life sciences industry association Medilink Midlands.
She said: “I settled in the East Midlands because it’s the best environment for the kind of work we do. There are not many eco-systems where you can get to know so many clinicians, GPs, innovators and founders. I’ve really seen that eco-system coming together over the last 12 or 15 years, and there is so much outstanding support to take innovators from early-stage start-ups to getting their products on the shelf.
“Everybody really does know everybody else and organisations such as Medilink and Spark The Midlands [part of a global pre-clinical accelerator programme] help provide excellent ways to people when they are starting out.”
Tech Week founder Louise Holland, from events organiser Holland Alexander, said they were already planning next year’s regional event in April.
She said: “This first Tech Week has had a fantastic atmosphere and we’ve been delighted with the levels of engagement we have had across the region. I think the appetite for a Tech Week that represents the region on this scale and in this style is huge.
“We’ve been inundated with content ideas for 2027 and everything is well under way for that. We’re already planning key themes such as innovation investment, tech transformation and skills.”
