Countdown gathers pace to Business Innovation South Expo
Top-flight presenters from industry, government and academia are lining up to share thought-leading expertise at the South’s annual flagship event for technology in business.
Aimed at business leaders and decision makers in all sectors, the Business Innovation South Expo is a showcase of the latest technology, products and services driven by science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Taking place at the Lakeside North Harbour business campus in Portsmouth on 14 September, #BIS2022 champions the role of STEM-related tech in essential areas such as sustainability, business resilience and growth planning.
READ MORE: Business Innovation South Expo aiming to be ‘a catalyst for collaboration’
After a networking breakfast, the event will open with a session on the vision and potential of the South as a hotbed for STEM activity and connectivity.
Among the speakers is Sue Littlemore, Director of Policy, Economic Strategy & Communications at the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership.
“Our part of the UK is a powerhouse of innovation and enterprise,” Sue said. “Our businesses are strong investors in R&D and are led by people with brilliant ideas for new market opportunities.
“Coming together at events like this where our world class universities, businesses and public sector influencers are forging partnerships and exchanging ideas will help take our region’s capacity for globally competitive innovation to even greater heights.”
The question of how best to maintain financial resilience in today’s highly dynamic business and technology environment will be covered in a session hosted by accountants and business advice firm MHA MacIntyre Hudson.
And experts from the police-led partnership the Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East (SECRC) will share latest guidance on emerging cyber threats, crime trends and best safeguarding practices.
This will be part of a holistic look at resilience for companies from infrastructure and staff training to governance and risk management.
Chris White, SECRC’s Head of Cyber & Resilience, said: “We’ll be discussing how best to prepare and protect your business, staff and customers from cyber criminals, something that will be a highly relevant and common concern for attendees.”
Complementing speaker sessions are a series of workshops. Content will feature sources of help for business growth such as R&D grants and tax rebates and how the commercialisation of university research can support the scaling up of businesses.
Stephen Mayers, Head of Scale-Up at the SETsquared university partnership which is hosting one the workshops, said: “Our scale-up programme offers a unique opportunity for growing businesses to tap into our university partners’ research expertise to apply for major funding calls that will enable them to drive company-led R&D and innovation.
“#BIS2022 is a great opportunity for us to meet a range of companies innovating across the science, technology, engineering and business innovation sectors and we look forward to hearing about their successes and goals.”
Other topics due for discussion in workshops and panel sessions include environmental, social and governance considerations (ESG), the protection of brands and IP, and how to take advantage of business opportunities envisaged by Solent Freeport status.
Event organiser Lara Bull said: “Sustainability and working towards net zero are high on the ESG agenda for all companies and we are delighted to have a panel coming together giving insights on the key areas that need to be addressed by decision makers.
“We want visitors to the Business Innovation South expo to see it as an investment of their time – not only to be inspired by our exhibitors but also the opportunity to hear insightful talks on key topics and shared challenges.
“With ESG for example, visitors will learn how a strong policy can facilitate top-line growth, attract talent, reduce costs and carbon footprint and forge a sense of trust with clients and consumers.
“Across the event, we are giving decision makers and business leaders interested in STEM a golden opportunity to network with exactly the right peer group.
“The aim is to ensure that investing a day of your time will help you reap many rewards through the insight you glean and the contacts you make.“
As well as individual companies exhibiting products and services, a range of membership organisations will be present at the expo.
One of these, TechSolent, is exhibiting for the first time. It’s chair, Phil Clark, said: “We and our hundreds of members share the vision of Business Innovation South to improve relationships between tech companies and the consumers of tech for public benefit and the economic development of the Solent.
“Our objective in exhibiting is to meet like-minded people and build our network. We think attending is a great opportunity.”
For updates, announcements and to register for the Business Innovation South Expo as an exhibitor or attendee, visit www.businessinnovationsouth.com or connect via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn using the hashtags #BIS2022, #morethanjustanexpo or #catalystforcollaboration.
