Sold-out S2S26 highlights growing confidence and collaboration across UK deep-tech ecosystem
Sold-out S2S26 highlights growing confidence and collaboration across UK deep-tech ecosystem
Over 700 industry leaders came together as TechWorks marked its 30th anniversary with the first Semiconductors to Systems Summit
London, 28 August 2026 – Over 700 leaders from across semiconductors, electronic systems, cybersecurity, academia, government and investment came together in London this week for the TechWorks Semiconductors to Systems Summit 2026 (S2S26).
Marking 30 years of TechWorks, the sold-out Summit brought together more than 110 speakers and over 70 exhibitors and sponsors for a day spanning the complete technology journey from semiconductor materials and devices through design and manufacturing to intelligent electronic systems, cybersecurity, commercialisation and scale-up.
For the first time, the TechWorks NMI, DESN, AESIN and IoT Security Foundation communities came together within one event, alongside the UK Semiconductor Centre and international partners from Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany.
Four parallel conferences – BUILD, CREATE, SECURE and SCALE – explored the technologies, partnerships and actions needed to turn the UK’s considerable deep-tech capabilities into economic and industrial impact.
Across the programme, speakers examined some of the technologies reshaping the industry – from atomically thin materials, GaN power semiconductors and InP photonics for the AI era, through AI-enabled semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, chiplets and heterogeneous integration.
Further up the value chain, discussions explored AI-driven chip and system design, digital twins, physical AI and autonomous systems, SiC and GaN-enabled electrification, hardware-enforced cyber resilience and the transition towards post-quantum security.
Together, the programme demonstrated the increasingly connected journey from new materials, through smarter manufacturing and new semiconductor architectures, to intelligent and trusted electronic systems.
The response from delegates following the Summit reflected a strong sense of momentum across the sector.
Hannah Boardman, Director of Frontier and Early-Stage Technologies, described S2S26 on LinkedIn as a:
“Brilliant event, such energy, urgency and ambition in the room.”
Michael Mawby of KuasaSemi congratulated TechWorks and the UK Semiconductor Centre on an “excellent” Summit, adding:
“What stood out yesterday was how supportive and collaborative the community continues to be.”
Silicon Catalyst UK described a “fantastic and successful day”, highlighting the “great conversations, connections and opportunities across the ecosystem.”
Industry commentator Tim Weekes reflected on a sector increasingly organising around a common purpose, concluding:
“There is energy in the room. It’s time to look forward with confidence.”
That sense of connection was central to S2S26.
The BUILD conference examined emerging semiconductor materials, manufacturing, metrology, process optimisation, photonics and advanced packaging. CREATE connected semiconductor technology with the rapidly changing world of electronic-system design, AI, automation, digital twins, electrification and autonomy.
SECURE addressed the growing requirement to build trust and resilience into technology from silicon upwards, covering hardware security, memory safety, connected-device resilience, AI security and post-quantum technologies.
SCALE, delivered with the UK Semiconductor Centre, focused on converting the UK’s technical strengths into economic value – tackling investment, commercialisation, skills, supply chains, international market access and the challenge of building globally significant technology companies.
International collaboration was another prominent theme throughout the day.
Semiconductor leaders from Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany joined UK industry representatives to explore how countries can combine complementary strengths in research, semiconductor fabrication, pilot lines, packaging, test, skills and market access rather than seeking to replicate complete semiconductor supply chains domestically.
Opening the Summit, Hannah Boardman set out the wider context for UK ambitions across semiconductors and other frontier technologies, while Paul Williamson, SVP Corporate Ventures at Arm, looked towards the next generation of computing and the opportunities it will create.
The opening session also celebrated the rapid growth of Women in TechWorks, launched to support the attraction, retention and career progression of women across engineering and technology.
Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks
“We wanted S2S26 to do something different – to bring the whole technology ecosystem together rather than have separate conversations about semiconductors, systems, cybersecurity, skills, investment and growth.
“What struck me most during the day was not simply the number of people in the building, but the sense of common purpose.
“There is extraordinary technology and engineering capability across the UK – from new semiconductor materials, photonics and advanced packaging to AI-enabled design, intelligent systems and secure computing. Our opportunity now is to connect those capabilities more effectively – across companies, technologies, regions and international partners – and turn more of them into successful businesses, investment, jobs and economic growth.
“Thirty years after TechWorks began, S2S26 felt much less like a celebration of where we have been and much more like a statement about where we can go next.”
External coverage also recognised the significance of bringing the different parts of the ecosystem together.
Writing in Tech Times, Luke McKenzie described S2S26 as bringing Britain’s TechWorks deep-tech communities together under one programme and highlighted the increasing importance of connecting semiconductor fabrication, systems integration, cybersecurity and investment.
His conclusion reflected the forward-looking mood of the Summit:
“S2S26 is a starting point, not a conclusion.”
For TechWorks, that is now the challenge.
The conversations started at S2S26 – around technology, collaboration, commercialisation, international partnerships, workforce development, trusted systems and scaling UK companies – will continue through its industry communities and partnerships over the coming year.
