Oxford | 28th Nov + Dinner
Thank you for joining the Futureproofing the UK Summit
The Summit was designed to bring together mission-driven individuals from diverse backgrounds to tackle the pressing challenges of our time. Hearing your perspectives and witnessing the collaboration in action reaffirmed the power of collective intelligence.
The testimony shared by Zoe Metcalfe brought the urgency of our discussions into sharp focus. Her resilience and determination were a stark reminder of why our work matters, and why we must push for systemic solutions to the escalating risks we face.
Zoe Metcalfe sharing her testimony at the summit
One of the goals of the Summit was to road test two ideas that could form the rationale for a dedicated centre or alliance:
The power of systemic innovation and strategic orchestration of intelligent technologies.
The requirement to help research cross the ‘translation gap’ to established product/market fit.
The outcome of the Summit demonstrated that these two concepts are powerful amplifiers for civil resilience. We are deeply grateful for your help in prototyping these capabilities for the UK.
As we explored the intersection of space technology and AI, it was clear that the potential to reshape our preparedness and resilience is within reach. Your input during the roundtables and discussions helped transform high-level concepts into actionable ideas, and we are excited to build on this momentum.
We are extremely grateful for your time, energy, and expertise. This is just the beginning of a journey, and we hope to continue working with you to drive meaningful change.
1. Can we prepare better for a tragedy like Valencia?
The tragedy in Cartaya and Valencia at the end of October 2024 has become Spain’s worst peacetime disaster. It is the most devastating flooding in Europe since 1967, the death toll has risen to 233 as a result of the flash flooding. As the flood waters have receded, it has become clear that warnings weren’t heeded prior and during the disaster itself. As flooding and storm surge become increasingly prevalent across the world, how can we learn from this tragedy and better prepare and adapt to ensure the safety of UK citizens and support our neighbours in Europe and international partners?
2. How can space-tech and AI help?
Space-tech (Earth observation, satellite communications) and AI and autonomy are maturing rapidly. There is an emerging consensus that these powerful new capabilities can support both enhanced prediction, resilience planning and just-in-time response. But it isn’t just about sprinkling some AI magic and hoping for the best. We know it's more complicated than that. What are the open questions and new capabilities we should be focusing on and what’s the reality of making them viable?
3. Closing the translation gap
Academia and industry in the UK and Europe are developing some incredible potential solutions. All these new capabilities are nice in principle, but the open challenge is getting to viable services that can deliver actionable services across the system. The path from academic result to product to investability and scale is known as the ‘translation gap’.
What are the points of failure that mean great solutions don’t deliver on their promise? How do we get across the translation gap between proof of concept, demos and pilots? What is the ‘translator mentality’ required to take cutting edge science and technology to in-market solutions?
Panelist
Our host for the Futureproof Summit: Peter Cardwell
Peter has had a unique career in the highest levels of government and broadcast journalism. An Oxford alumnus, Peter also served as special adviser in the UK Government for three and a half years, writing a book about his experiences – The Secret Life of Special Advisers.
We have invited Peter to provide insight into the workings of the UK government and how the ideas discussed in the Futureproof meeting might be shaped to gain traction.
