TechWorks has launched the Semiconductor to Systems Summit, a new executive event for the UK deep-tech sector that will bring together more than 500 industry figures.

The summit is intended as a meeting point for organisations across the semiconductor-to-systems chain, spanning materials, chip design, manufacturing, packaging, systems integration and cyber security. It will also draw investors, researchers, policy specialists and end users from UK industry and overseas markets including Japan, Canada and the Netherlands.

The launch comes as the industry body marks its 30th anniversary. The summit will be the central event in those celebrations and create a single forum for several communities that have until now operated separately.

For the first time, the networks behind NMI, DESN, AESIN and IoTSF will meet under one roof. That broadens the event beyond semiconductors to include electronic systems, automotive technology and cyber resilience, reflecting how companies increasingly work across connected parts of the supply chain rather than in isolation.

Industry focus

The programme is divided into four conference streams: Build, covering manufacturing and devices; Create, focused on systems and integration; Secure, centred on cyber resilience and quantum safety; and Scale, covering investment and commercialisation.

The structure is designed to link technical development with business and policy concerns. Topics include advanced materials, systems design, verification, AI threats, trust, investment, innovation and global trade.

The event will also feature an exhibition area with companies, research and technology organisations, international pavilions and a startup zone hosted by Silicon Catalyst UK. Delegates are expected from sectors including automotive, aerospace, defence, energy, industrial automation, AI and healthcare.

TechWorks is delivering the summit with the UK Semiconductor Centre. The collaboration brings together an established industry membership organisation and a body focused on strengthening the domestic semiconductor sector, at a time when governments and companies are paying closer attention to supply chains, industrial capacity and technology sovereignty.

Wider backdrop

The summit enters a market in which semiconductors have moved higher up the economic and political agenda. Demand for chips and advanced electronic systems is increasingly tied to industrial policy, defence planning and national competitiveness, while the spread of AI and connected devices has raised the sector’s strategic importance.

In the UK, that has sharpened interest in how design, manufacturing, packaging, software, systems engineering and security fit together. By framing the event around the route from semiconductor development to deployed systems, TechWorks is seeking to capture a broader share of that conversation than a conventional chip industry conference.

The summit will give companies a place to examine emerging technologies and form commercial links across the value chain. Its emphasis on international markets also suggests an effort to put UK businesses in front of overseas partners as competition for investment and technical collaboration grows.

Charles Sturman outlined the rationale for the new event.

“Over the past 30 years, the semiconductor and electronics industries have evolved beyond recognition. Today, innovation does not happen in isolation; it happens through collaboration across the value chain. That is why we have created the Semiconductor to Systems Summit. By bringing together our semiconductor, electronic systems, automotive, cyber security and emerging technology communities, we are creating a unique forum where industry leaders can share ideas, build partnerships and address the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of UK technology,” said Charles Sturman, Chief Executive Officer of TechWorks.

The planned attendance of more than 500 delegates would make it one of the larger UK gatherings focused on linking chip development with downstream systems and end markets. It also underlines the growing overlap between sectors once discussed separately, from semiconductors and embedded systems to vehicle electronics, cyber security and industrial AI.

Alongside the conference sessions, the startup presence points to an effort to bring younger companies into contact with larger manufacturers, customers and investors. That may be particularly relevant in areas such as advanced packaging, edge systems and security, where smaller firms often depend on partnerships to scale products and reach regulated industries.

For TechWorks, the summit also serves as a statement about its role in the sector. By convening multiple specialist communities in one event, the organisation is presenting itself as a connector across a fragmented technology landscape spanning hardware, software, security and commercialisation.

Voco Oxford Thames and Voco Oxford Spires hotels have launched a summer competition inviting locals to nominate a family without access to outdoor space for a complimentary stay.

The winning family will enjoy a peaceful overnight break at one of the hotels, which includes a 30-acre riverside estate.

Wendy Procter, cluster general manager for both hotels, said: “Summer should be about making memories outdoors, but not every family has access to a garden or green space at home.

“We wanted to offer a deserving family the chance to enjoy everything a countryside escape has to offer.

“From riverside walks and open lawns to simply relaxing somewhere cool, peaceful and surrounded by nature.”

Both hotels offer different ways to experience Oxford and its surroundings.

Voco Oxford Spires is located near the city centre, making it easy to explore museums, historic colleges, riverside walks and independent cafés.

Guests can return to the comfort of a stylish, air-conditioned hotel close to the city’s attractions.

Voco Oxford Thames provides a more tranquil experience with generous outdoor space, pet-friendly stays, a spa and leisure club, and easy access to both Oxford and the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside.

To enter the competition, readers must email oxfordclustermarketing@ihg.com with a brief explanation of why their nominated family deserves the getaway.

Entries close on July 31.

JOSEPH GABRIEL LAGONSIN

News Editor

Braze has published research showing that 43% of UK shoppers are unwilling to share certain personal data with brands, even though 70% still want companies to understand their shopping preferences.

The findings come from a survey of 2,000 UK consumers and are part of a wider study covering five countries. Among those markets, the UK was identified as the most resistant to using artificial intelligence in shopping.

The results highlight a tension between consumers’ desire for more tailored shopping experiences and their reluctance to share the information often used to deliver them. According to the study, 43% of UK shoppers would not share real-time browsing data or AI chat history, even if it could lead to more personalised offers.

At the same time, personalisation remains important for a large majority of consumers. Seven in 10 respondents said it matters that brands understand their preferences, particularly during major retail periods such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

AI resistance

The research also found mixed views on the use of AI in shopping. While 35% of UK shoppers said they are likely to use AI to find deals or discover new products, a larger share, 43%, said they are unlikely to use such tools at all.

Concerns also extend to physical retail settings. The survey found that 30% of respondents are cautious about AI replacing in-store staff, while 16% said they prefer human interaction and are concerned about AI. A further 13% said AI taking over staff roles would ruin their shopping experience.

This suggests resistance is not limited to data sharing, but also extends to the wider role of automation in customer service and product discovery. For retailers and consumer brands, it underlines the challenge of introducing new technology without weakening trust or disrupting established buying habits.

The UK stood out in the international comparison included in the study, with British consumers the most resistant to using AI among respondents in France, Germany, Spain, the UK and the US.

Trust gap

The figures highlight a broader trust gap for brands seeking to deepen customer relationships through digital tools. Retailers have invested heavily in systems that can tailor promotions, recommendations and messaging, but those efforts depend on shoppers being willing to provide consented data.

Consumers appear most reluctant to share data generated beyond direct transactions, including browsing behaviour and AI chat activity. That may leave companies with a narrower pool of signals to work with, even as expectations for relevance and convenience remain high.

For brands, this places more emphasis on first-party data gathered directly through interactions such as purchases, loyalty schemes and app use. It also raises questions about how clearly companies explain data use to customers and whether the value exchange is persuasive enough to overcome privacy concerns.

OnePoll conducted the UK survey among adult consumers during the spring as part of a global poll of 7,000 respondents. The wider study explored consumer attitudes to seasonal shopping across the five markets.

Commenting on the findings, Braze pointed to growing consumer caution over how personal digital behaviour is used.

“British shoppers want brands to understand their preferences, but they are increasingly locking down their personal browsing and AI search histories,” said Nico Berliner, GM UK, Braze.

“This data standoff means the open-web blind spot is growing, making a brand’s first-party data its most valuable asset. It is more important than ever for companies to make the most of the direct, consented data they already have, so they can deliver smooth experiences across channels and build consumer trust,” Berliner said.