We were pleased to sponsor the Cambridge University Technology & Enterprise Club’s flagship conference on Thursday 11 June. The conference convened researchers, founders, investors and corporates who focus on frontier technology in computing and AI. Across a number of panel discussions, covering topics such as ‘Scaling Under Constraint’, ‘Robotics and Physical AI’, ‘Quantum – From Lab to Market’, and ‘Investment – Financing Deep Tech at Scale’, a consistent message emerged: the UK has world-class scientific capability and a growing investor base, but more needs to be done to scale UK innovation into globally competitive companies. The discussions highlighted several themes that are likely to shape the UK’s tech ecosystem over the coming years, particularly for founders, investors and businesses developing AI-enabled technologies. We have summarised the key takeaways as follows. The UK startup environment has genuine strengths, but it is still constrained Speakers returned repeatedly to the advantages of Cambridge and the wider UK ecosystem, which boasts strong universities, exceptional research depth and intellectual capital. At the same time, the discussions acknowledged familiar weaknesses, especially the difficulty of scaling capital-intensive ventures in a system where later-stage funding, government support and entrepreneurial culture can lag behind international competitors, particularly the US. AI is extending from software into the physical world The ‘Robotics and Physical AI’ discussion pointed to a shift from digital-only software towards applications that operate in real-world settings, including surgical robots and autonomous systems in the agri-tech sector. The emphasis was on industries where physical AI can reshape productivity, capability and service delivery, with potential impact across manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, amongst others. Deep tech requires patient, specialist capital The investment panel emphasised that capital-intensive science companies need investors who understand long development cycles, technical risk, hardware integration, regulation, and the importance of financing strategies that support growth beyond early proof-of-concept stages. These elements are essential to helping deep tech companies grow to scale in the UK, rather than relocating elsewhere. Commercialisation is key Discussions around quantum computing reinforced the broader theme that scientific leadership and innovation alone is not enough. Success depends on translating cutting-edge technologies into products, customers and partnerships. It is important that founders and investors work together to bridge the gap between research and development and commercial execution. Policy, universities, investors, and founders must work together Perhaps the strongest theme was the need for an ecosystem of support around founders. The discussions suggested that the UK’s ability to lead in AI-enabled deep tech will depend on stronger links between academic research, seed and later-stage financing, industrial adoption and government support, paired with a more optimistic culture and confidence that globally significant companies can be built from within the UK. The UK has the research expertise and the technological breadth to lead in fields such as robotics, quantum and AI-enabled industrial innovation. The challenge, echoed across the sessions, is to match scientific excellence with the attitude, ambition, capital and commercial discipline needed to build the next generation of world-class deep-tech companies at home. If you would like to discuss any of these themes please do contact any of the authors. This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. © Farrer & Co LLP, June 2026
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