Be Better Connected: DCMS 5G Project Collaboration Conference

Brought to you by Cambridge Wireless

Be Better Connected is the major two-day, invitation-only, virtual conference hosted by DCMS and UK5G, bringing together for the first time all the 5G Testbeds and Trials projects in one forum.

Registration for this event is now closed.

About the event

This event is jointly delivered by UK5G and DCMS

DCMS & UK5G

This event provides delegates with opportunities to gain perspective on the wider 5GTT programme, the progress to date of each of the 5G projects, as well as the various inter-project collaborations underway. This conference provides an excellent opportunity for projects to showcase their work, network virtually, learn from each other and to celebrate together the forward momentum of the overall programme.

The event format is highly interactive with a blend of virtual networking, exhibition areas, lightning talks, Q&A sessions, a competition with prizes, and introductory plenary sessions.

On day one, each 5G project is provided with a virtual exhibition space to showcase their project and interact with others. On day two, each collaboration workstream has the opportunity to showcase their developments thus far. Networking and learning from each other is an important aspect of what this event enables. Please ensure you have provided your collateral in advance by the 28th of February 2021 to collaboration_comms@UK5G.org.

Places are limited, we are operating a waiting list system to ensure all projects are fairly represented and each project can access a place, we will be in touch to confirm your place shortly.

Please see below for the agenda and speaker details.

You can follow @CambWireless on Twitter and tweet about this event using #BeBetterConnected.

Jointly organised by UK5G

The national innovation network dedicated to the promotion of research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK.

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Jointly organised by Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad.

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Agenda

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The information supplied below may be subject to change before the event.

Be Better Connected: Day 1 (23 March 2021)

09:00

Registration and orientation in Remo

10:00

Introduction and Overview of Session; Andy Curtis, Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries, UK5G

10:00

Introduction and Overview of Session; Andy Curtis, Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries, UK5G

10:05

Welcome and update from the 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme

Ian Smith, 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme Director, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Matt Warman MP, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

Followed by Q&A

10:35

Networking and collaboration session introduced by Andy Curtis, Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries, UK5G

The focus in this session is on individual 5G projects; delegates can move around the virtual exhibition and visit the many 5G projects at their individual virtual tables. A wealth of rich material is available from each project (please read in advance) and you can use the video conferencing function to talk directly with the project team members at their table. Use this time to:
• learn about the goals and progress of projects
• share insights and learning
• explore collaboration and other opportunities together.

Listen out for announcements on the day, fun prizes will be awarded to the top virtual exhibition experiences, networkers and contributors.

From 11:35 till 11:50 there will be a short Interlude for lightening talks chaired by Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

12:20

DCMS led Q&A session: Making it real, chaired by Andy Curtis, UK5G

Tony Sceales, Head of Programme Development (Sectors), Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Jessica Ellis, Head of Programme Development (Place), Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Robert Driver, Head, UK5G

A DCMS led Q&A session on the future emphasis of the 5G Programme, and how the outputs of projects can accelerate the adoption of 5G in sectors and places. We invite questions and input from the floor.

12:40

Virtual lunch and networking and collaboration session continued introduced by Andy Curtis, Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries, UK5G

The focus in this session is on individual 5G projects; delegates can move around the virtual exhibition and visit the many 5G projects at their individual virtual tables. A wealth of rich material is available from each project (please read in advance) and you can use the video conferencing function to talk directly with the project team members at their table. Use this time to:
• learn about the goals and progress of projects
• share insights and learning
• explore collaboration and other opportunities together.

From 13:15 till 13:30 there will be a short Interlude for lightening talks chaired by Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

14:20

What’s in store for Day 2 – Collaboration; Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

14:30

Day one close

Be Better Connected: Day 2 (24 March 2021)

10:00

Introduction and session overview; Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

10:05

Importance of collaboration

* Ros Singleton, Chair, UK5G Advisory Board
* David Pedley, Technical Design Authority, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

10:15

Collaboration in practice; Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

10:25

Digital Catapult - insights from Industrial projects; Dr. Alistair Munro, Senior 5G Adviser, Digital Catapult

10:40

Networking and collaboration session (part 1) introduced by Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

This session will focus on collaboration between projects; delegates have the opportunity again to move around the virtual exhibition and visit virtual tables. This time each table focuses on a different collaboration topic being undertaken between projects. Explore the rich source of information available on each topic and use the video conferencing function to talk directly with the project team members at their tables. Use this time to:
• learn about the goals and progress of collaboration projects,
• share insights and learning
• explore new collaboration opportunities and ways of sharing learnings together.
• Listen out for announcements on the day, fun prizes will be awarded to the top virtual exhibition experiences, networkers and contributors.

From 11:30 till 12:00 there will be a short Interlude for lightening talks chaired by Richard Foggie, Digital Economy & IoT, UK5G

12:30

Closing remarks; Ian Smith, 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme Director, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

12:40

Virtual lunch and networking and collaboration session (part 2) introduced by Richard Foggie, Digital Economy & IoT, UK5G

A return to the virtual exhibition for a final opportunity to visit virtual tables and to network again focusing on collaboration between projects. Each table focuses on a different collaboration topic being undertaken between projects. Explore the rich source of information available on each topic and use the video conferencing function to talk directly with the project team members at their tables. Use this time to:
• learn about the goals and progress of collaboration projects,
• share insights and learning
• explore new collaboration opportunities and ways of sharing learnings together.
• Listen out for announcements on the day, fun prizes will be awarded to the top virtual exhibition experiences, networkers and contributors.

From 13:15 till 13:45 there will be a short Interlude for lightening talks chaired by Richard Foggie, Digital Economy & IoT, UK5G

14:20

Final Wrap up, Peter Whale, Senior Advisor, UK5G

Platform for participants advocating new collaboration topics

14:30

Event close

Speakers

Andy Curtis - Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries, KTN

Andy Curtis is Head of Digital Economy and Creative Industries at KTN. He has a professional background in the Creative, Media and Digital industries and his career has also encompassed many other technology and innovation led sectors, niches and business markets. He has worked with businesses, local and national governments and Universities in client cities and regions in the UK, Europe and North America to support business growth initiatives in innovative technology sectors.

Robert Driver - Senior Advisor, UKTIN

Bob currently is a senior advisor for the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), having been interim head of this new organisation to February 2023. Bob has helped to create an innovation network for the UK Telecoms industry, bringing together industry, academia, and government to catalyse telecoms R&D investment, cooperation, and commercialisation.

Founded in 2022, UKTIN is delivered by a consortium of four partners - who draw on their distinct strengths in a collaborative approach: The Digital Catapult (Lead), Cambridge Wireless, WM5G and the University of Bristol. UKTIN has been initially funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to drive the Telecom Supply Chain Diversification Strategy.

From 2018 to October 2022 Bob led the UK5G programme on behalf of CW. CW was the lead partner for a consortium chosen by the Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport, to create and deliver the national 5G Innovation Network. The consortium included CW, the KTN and TM Forum. UK5G brought together and marketed the UK’s 5G eco-system - including the national Testbed & Trials programme along with other business-led 5G initiatives.

Bob was CEO of CW from May 2015 to November 2018 focusing on leading the development of the organisation, broadening its reach with other sectors and clusters, while retaining the unique culture and dynamism of the CW community.

Prior to working at CW, Bob was Director for Technology at UK Trade & Investment (now part of the Department for Business and Trade) where he successfully led national teams helping UK tech companies to access overseas opportunities as well as attracting technology inward investment into the UK. He also coordinated the UKTI science and innovation agenda and was responsible for the delivery of UKTI events from small missions to large trade fairs.

Richard Foggie - Digital Economy & IoT, KTN, Delivery Team, UK5G

Richard works with IoT and 5G in the team with close connection to KTN 'smart' cities and the manufacturing, health, energy and infrastructure sectors. Richard supports organisations and people who are into IoT or 'smart', data and the systems for catching, shifting, chopping and slicing, including wireless transports for solving business problems in any space. This includes organisations involved with IoT, I4.0, LPWAN, NB-IoT, LTE-M, 5G, cloud, 'smart X', digitisation and digitalisation.

Richard works across sectors helping companies and people accelerate their ideas into real-world solutions. He guides them through significant Industrial and Digital Strategies opportunities, obtain expertise and forge connections like new clients and investors.

Richard's background is in science including chemistry, biochemistry and device physics in businesses of all sizes. Before joining KTN, Richard also worked on innovation support measures.

Alistair Munro - Senior 5G Adviser, Digital Catapult

Alistair Munro is currently Senior Expert Advisor on 5G at the Digital Catapult in London, UK. He is responsible for technical coordination between the projects of the Industrial 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme of DCMS.

He worked previously at Airbus Defence and Space where he was Technical Lead for communications, spectrum management and security in the UK ASTRAEA project, which was concerned with the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into non-segregated airspace. Before that he held the Toshiba Chair in Communications networks at Bristol University, UK.

Having obtained his BSc in Mathematics from Imperial College in 1975, London and PhD from University of Manchester, UK in 1983, he has over 30 years experience in the specification, design and implementation, and performance analysis of distributed computing systems and a wide range of telecommunications technologies. He has collaborated widely with industry and academia in the UK, Europe, the USA and Japan, mainly on communications standards.

David Pedley - Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

Telecommunications Engineering BEng CISMP Mobile telecommunications subject specialist: providing technical and delivery guidance on the testing and trialling of 4G and 5G systems to MNOs and the public sector. On behalf of DCMS, David's role as Technical Design Authority is to provide technical guidance to DCMS and to support DCMS with the technical management of the 5GTT projects. 

Tony Sceales - Head of Programme Development, 5G Programme, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

Tony Sceales is Head of Programme Development on the DCMS 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme.

The £200m Programme has been central to the funding and development of a wide range of 5G testbeds, creating momentum and accelerating deployment of 5G networks across the UK.

Tony has spent over 25 years in the telecoms and technology industries, working on major projects at global firms including BT, IBM, Telstra, KPN, Swisscom, Prudential and China Gas, as well as with growth start-up innovators.

He is an Ambassador and former Executive Committee member of the TM Forum, and collaborated in producing some of the key thinking around partnership business models and B2B2X trading.

His role at DCMS is to drive engagement with key players across industry sectors to encourage successful 5G investment and adoption in the UK.

Rosalind Singleton - Chair, Advisory Board, UK5G

Rosalind Singleton is a CEO, board chair, NED, advisor and investor with over 30 years of experience in the technology sector.   She is the CEO of Spring Fibre, an FTTH start up and the Chair of the UK5G Advisory Board.  UK5G is the national innovation network dedicated to the promotion of research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK, providing advice to and working closely with the Department for Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport (DCMS). 

For the last six years Rosalind has been an active angel investor and mentor and has led several deals, focussing on tech businesses with a female founder.  She is a member of the Angel Academe Advisory Board. 

Rosalind joined UK Broadband in 2013 and was Managing Director from 2017 until it integrated into its parent company in 2019 having held senior roles at BT Openreach, Cable and Wireless, Vodafone, various VNOs, and international operators.

Rosalind is a member of the UK Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Advisory Council and Ofcom’s Spectrum Advisory Board.  She is an Independent NED on the board of Alphawave PLC and serves as an INCA Board Member.  

Matt Warman - Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)

Matt Warman was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 26 July 2019. He was an Assistant Government Whip from 23 April 2019 to 25 July 2019.

Peter Whale - ., UKTIN, Founder & CEO, Vision Formers

Peter is Founder & CEO of Vision Formers, the specialist consultancy that supports and mentors leaders of visionary technology businesses get product to market and turn ideas into reality.

Vision Formers works with start-ups and scale-ups, providing significant expertise in accelerating business growth through a focus on developing a robust product strategy, growing and coaching product and development teams, and providing operational excellence. Peter has a long track record of conceiving, developing and marketing successful technology-based solutions, deployed at scale, globally. Innovative products Peter has brought to market in digital, cloud, AI, consumer electronics and telecommunications have been used by countless millions of people on a daily basis globally, badged by the world’s leading digital and technology brands.

Peter also works with Digital Catapult as Programme Manager for UKTIN, working with partners and stakeholders to deliver UKTIN’s mission to transform the UK telecoms innovation ecosystem, capitalising on the country’s strengths in technology, academia, and entrepreneurialism, while positioning it for growth as new opportunities emerge in the industry.

Peter is a board member of CW (Cambridge Wireless), a Fellow of the IET, a Chartered Engineer, and a member of the Association of Business Mentors.

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