VentureFest North East set to return in May

VentureFest North East will return 10-11 May 2023, where it will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an expanded two-day programme.

The conference has spent the last decade celebrating and inspiring innovation across the region. In 2023 the conference theme is ‘Our Future, Now’ with the event bringing together speakers with a global perspective on the challenges impacting society. It will also celebrate the local businesses that are making a real impact across communities and industries with their innovations.

Estelle Blanks, CEO at Innovation SuperNetwork, said: “Each year with VentureFest we try to ensure our programme is touching on critical themes where innovation can make a real impact. In our 10th anniversary year, we want to reflect on the journey our flagship event has been on and the impact regional innovation is having globally.

“At the same time, we can’t forget that we’re facing huge challenges in reaching our net zero ambitions with the impact not just affecting our environment but the health & wellbeing of communities across the globe. Innovation is key to making future progress, but we need to collaborate to ensure the technology that is available now can affect the change we so desperately need to see.

“As well as celebrating the innovative ideas being born right here in the North East, VentureFest 2023 includes an exciting line-up of speakers who are experts in tackling the critical issues we face. I can’t wait to see the two-day programme come together. There really is no event quite like it!”

The line up includes assistant director UK & Europe for international sustainability non-profit, Forum for the Future, Martin Hunt. Martin’s keynote address will draw on his experience and expertise in circular economies and sustainable construction.

The event will also include ‘pitches’ from renowned hydrogen expert Prof Nick Wright from Newcastle University and education futurist Prof Craig Gaskell from Teesside University, as part of a panel that asks, ‘what if we did things differently?’ in a variety of sectors.

Sharing her story ahead of the North East Innovation Awards will be local entrepreneur Judith McMinn, founder of Rezon. Judith spent lockdown developing an idea she had been contemplating for over a decade to develop a headband that could revolutionise how we protect and manage our brain health when playing sports from a young age.

Judith said: “I’m really thrilled to be asked to share my story with fellow innovators at VentureFest North East. As an entrepreneur, innovating can be a lonely experience, so events like VentureFest really help us to build connections, find support and identify opportunities.”

VentureFest North East first appeared in 2013 as the Innovate NE Conference, before growing into the large-scale event it is now. Simon Green, Founder and Chair of the Innovation SuperNetwork, worked with Estelle Blanks to develop the event with Newcastle Science City. They then built it through the SuperNetwork when it started operating in 2016.

He said: “The region has seen an increase in the number of innovation active businesses, and the businesses we celebrate each year at VentureFest are testament to the status the region holds in producing leading innovators.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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