Taking place across 15-19 June, #EMTW is being launched with the backing of some of the region’s most high-profile corporations.
The event aims to provide the networks, knowledge and opportunities which tech entrepreneurs need to drive their future and support the economic development of the East Midlands.
Planned as a week-long festival with a series of headliner and fringe events designed around core economic clusters, East Mids Tech Week will be the first time national and international audiences have been drawn to the East Midlands in this way.
From engineering businesses to nuclear infrastructure programmes, to spectacular space innovation, the East Mids has long been a hotspot of tech ingenuity for global impact.
Forging Ahead, a Midlands-wide initiative led by Loughborough University in a collaboration with Midlands Innovation and backed by Research England - will be present across the first day.
Rajinder Bhuhi, Forging Ahead Manager, said:
“Forging Ahead - a bold collaboration between 15 Midlands partner universities - driving growth through spinouts and commercial opportunities - is excited to be part of the first ever East Midlands Tech Week 2026.
"It’s a fantastic chance to showcase spinouts, connect with investors, and strengthen existing relationships while building new ones across the region’s innovation ecosystem."
Events throughout East Midlands Tech Week
Eight major headliner events are planned, with further events being programmed to run from now until Tech Week in June 2026.
The festival kicks off with Day 1 on Monday 15 June at Vaillant Live with a huge Investment Show for businesses looking for product R&D, Tech, or innovation funding to drive their businesses for growth. Investor and BBC One’s The Apprentice team leader Mike Soutar will discuss investment trends and deal closure in practice.
The Investment Show has been created for Founders, Chief Executives directors, CFOs, CMOs and senior leaders in businesses from young brands to those seeking their first funding round or further equity raising for growth acceleration in their business.
The British Business Bank, the UK’s economic development bank, driving regional access to finance and business growth in the East Midlands will be represented at EMTW.
Vicky Mears, Director, UK Network, Midlands and North said:
“The British Business Bank is delighted to be a partner for the inaugural East Mids Tech Week in June next year. We especially look forward to supporting the delivery of the Investment Show, which will take place at the start of the week. We know how important it is to continue to raise awareness of the finance options available to the region’s growing businesses and this event provides a great opportunity to do just that.”
Day 2 on Tuesday 16 June, will see a major Energy Tech event featuring festival Champion Partner, the Energy Research Accelerator Conference 2026. Nick King, Head of Marketing at the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), said:
“We’re delighted to be hosting the ERA Conference at the fantastic Vaillant Live Arena in Derby next June, as part of the inaugural East Midlands Tech Week.
“We’re working to drive forward the transition to a cleaner, smarter and more sustainable energy future across the Midlands and beyond. The ERA conference is a fantastic opportunity for people to find out about the latest in energy technologies, innovation and research, and to connect with businesses, researchers and policymakers from across the UK.”
Also to be held on Day 2 is the Defence and Security Tech, and Engineering Tech headliner events at Vaillant Live focusing on infrastructure plans, SME supply chain opportunities, and product ingenuity.
While on Day 3, Wednesday 17 June, the focus will be on Women in Tech with events held in Nottingham.
Day 4, Thursday June will host two major events in Leicester: Data and Space Tech will be staged at Space City in Leicester, presenting the latest global programmes, supply chain opportunities and pioneering space tech developments.
From Champion Partner Space Park Leicester, CEO Will Wells, said:
“East Mids Tech Week is an exciting new platform to celebrate the region’s growing tech community. We’re proud to host part of the festival here at Space Park Leicester – bringing together brilliant minds, bold ideas and inspiring partnerships from across the region.
"The University of Leicester Freemans Common campus will be the location for a Med Tech event focussing on discussing the technology advancement and specialisms within the regional Med Tech Community, alongside promoting supply chain opportunities."
Professor Tom Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Life Sciences at the University of Leicester, said:
“Universities are key regional drivers and engines of innovation, inclusion, and economic growth. We are therefore proud to be involved in the East Midlands Tech Week as a host for the MED TECH cluster event.
“Our commitment to research and knowledge transfer with industry has created impacts across science, innovation and technology – for example at Space Park Leicester our £100 million space industry hub delivered in collaboration with partners. We are in the business on innovating."
EMTW owner, Holland Alexander, Managing Director, Louise Holland said:
“We wanted to create an electric festival that drives attention to those incredible business assets based in the region which are creating global tech ingenuity and have the potential to fuel economic growth."
All headline and fringe events will be free to attend for delegates with ticket bookings launching in January 2026.