Wales Tech Week’s momentum continued into its second day, with industry leaders, entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts attending the ICC in Newport to explore the latest innovations in Wales and their impact on international business, technology and society.

Tuesday’s programme also included expert panels on subjects such as circularity and sustainability, green transport, cloud technology, cybersecurity, finance and investment, digital transformation, customer experience, and e-sports.

As part of one of the main themes of inclusivity, the Celebrating Welsh Women in Tech lunch event welcomed 200 guests for a panel session and networking.

Online attendees across the UK and internationally can now catch up with recorded sessions by registering through Wales Tech Week’s platform partner Haia via https://event.haia.live/event/599.

Please note sessions from Monday morning will be online by the end of this week.

Key highlights

Breakfast with Tokyo – with a focus on the Welsh cybersecurity industry’s global reach.

Hosted by John Davies MBE, Co-Founder and Board Director of Cyber Wales, with panellists attending in-person and virtually from Japan.

John shared the backstory of Wales’ world-class cybersecurity industry, and Cyber Wales, which has links with over 30 countries across the world, including Bangladesh, UAE, Japan and more. The team helped launch Cyber Hiroshima last year, creating myriad opportunities for future collaboration between Wales and Japan.

Unleashing the Potential: Exploring Esports as a Lucrative Market – including a discussion of how the gaming ecosystem is highly accessible and diverse, and open to people regardless of their age, gender or background.
Can Wales be a Pioneer in the Circular Economy?

Panel including Inga Doak, Head of Sustainability at the Royal Mint; Ana Matic, Director, Digital Development at architectural company Scott Brownrigg; Gareth Banks, head of sustainability at office furniture maker Orangebox; and Dafydd Jones from LitterLotto.

Ms Doak explained how the Royal Mint’s business will include luxury jewellery made out of gold recovered from printed circuit boards. Topics discussed included the construction industry and circularity in commercial developments vs housing, and the business case for circularity across all industries.

Trefi Smart Towns Cymru: How Smart Technology is Future Proofing Welsh High Streets (sponsored by Trefi Smart Towns Cymru)

Kiki Rees-Stavros of Smart Towns Wales discussed the new programme of support, funded by Welsh Government, and how it’s helping regenerate Welsh high streets.

Funding the Future of Wales – a look at private investment in Welsh businesses

Experts from Beauhurst, British Business Bank, Development Bank of Wales and Mentra Ventures gathered to discuss the rise of angel investors, the impact of inflation on finance and innovation, and British Business Bank’s upcoming Investment Fund for Wales initiative that is going to be introduced on 23 November, providing £130 million for businesses across Wales.

PLUS:

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Gareth Davies MP in conversation with Fintech Wales CEO Sarah Williams-Gardener
Green Trains, Planes & Automobiles – the future of transport
HP’s Engineering experiences that amaze
Unlocking the transformational power of cloud – PwC
Improving access to finance in Wales: how FinTech is reshaping credit decisions to enable greater financial inclusion, sponsored by LexisNexis Risk Solutions
How FinTechs are responding to, and addressing, the cost-of-living crisis in Wales and beyond, sponsored by EY
Future Thinking: how do we transition to a Net Zero world? Sponsored by Butterfly Data
BT Digital Society: Find out how BT is Transforming the Digital Future of Wales

Experts discussed how 5G is enabling a new digital society and how you can drive growth

Why Cloudy in Newport is a Bright Welsh Forecast – a look at cloud technology and the impact of Vantage DC’s data centre in Newport

How technology can help business grow, increase productivity and create meaningful workplaces – featuring Deloitte and Nicola McNeely from law firm HCR
Closing Keynote: Reshaping Tomorrow: Harnessing Tech’s Infinite Potential to Innovate, Adapt, & Thrive with Zoe Kleinman

About Wales Tech Week 16-18 October

Wales Tech Week is putting Welsh technology on the international stage and enabling attendees from all sectors to explore what tech can do for their organisations and careers.

Looking ahead to Wednesday 18 October

Today is dedicated to ‘Talent4tech’ to inspire the ‘tech curious’ to pursue a career in one of the many fields available, and understand the opportunities to shape the future in this dynamic industry. Plus sessions for employers on recruiting and retaining tech talent.