On 3 March 2026, leaders from across business, education, government, and community will gather at MK Conferencing, Milton Keynes, for the first Overt STEM Summit.

The Summit is more than a conference. It’s a working room for the Arc, designed to spark collaboration, challenge assumptions, and build lasting frameworks for action.

Who It’s For

  • SMEs and industry innovators driving STEM growth
  • Educators and researchers shaping the next generation
  • Community leaders and policymakers, building inclusion across the Arc
  • Students and future talent are ready to step into leadership

If you want to shape the future of STEM in the Arc, this is your space.

What to Expect

Interactive sessions: myth-busting panels, hands-on workshops, and live debates

Real stories: lived experiences from those shaping STEM on the ground

Cross-sector collaboration: industry meets academia, policymakers meet community

Tangible outcomes: action plans that participants help create and own

The Four Strategic Pillars

Each pillar represents a force in its own right. Together, they form the robust foundation of our region’s innovative future.

Education and Skills

Where we shape the confidence, capability and curiosity of tomorrow’s STEM contributors through comprehensive learning pathways and inclusive educational practices.

Global Industry and Anchor Employers

Where we find scale, investment and international recognition for our region through strategic partnerships with leading technology and innovation companies.

Government and Civic Leadership

Where policy, planning and place-making initiatives determine who gets to participate in our region’s STEM future through strategic public investment.

SME and Community Innovation

Where ground-level ingenuity and lived experience drive human-centred solutions that address real community challenges through entrepreneurial innovation.

The Co-Created Framework

At the Summit, we’re not just talking, we’re building. Together, delegates and speakers will co-create a Strategic Framework for STEM Belonging, rooted in the Oxford–Cambridge Arc and designed to last.

This framework will unite education, industry, government, and community innovation into a shared roadmap for action. It will break down silos, widen access, and ensure that inclusion and innovation move forward together.

What begins in the room will live on as a practical tool for investment, skills, and collaboration across the region.

Get Involved

Speaker Opportunities

We’re looking for bold, inspiring voices to take the stage. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an educator, or a changemaker, we want to hear your story. As a speaker, you’ll:

  • Share your expertise with a diverse audience of STEM leaders
  • Influence the regional narrative shaping the Arc’s future
  • Inspire the next generation of innovators and collaborators

Sponsor the Summit

Position your organisation at the heart of this landmark event. Sponsorship offers opportunities to:

  • Showcase your leadership in STEM and inclusion
  • Connect with decision-makers, partners, and future talent
  • Align your brand with a regional legacy of innovation

” We have a great foundation for STEM success in the Oxford-Cambridge arc. It is a personal priority to me to develop talent to fill the highly skilled roles our industry needs in this area.“

Emma Kent,
Managing Director Initivo

MK Conferencing

The Venue

MK Conferencing is a top-class conference and meetings venue located just half a mile from Central Milton Keynes and one mile from the railway station, offering free parking for all guests!

The Summit and Awards will be held at:

MK Conferencing, Strudwick Dr, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes MK6 2TG

Contact us

Media Enquiries: anne@stratos.agency

General Enquiries: meena@events-together.co.uk