Our Digital Futures: Data and Ethics

Through expert facilitation, the Virtual Innovation Lab will invite participants to co-create real-world innovative solutions to solve key challenges for a more sustainable future. This is an invite-only workshop.

The Virtual Innovation Lab is a full-day workshop which is split across two days to create a better experience.

While we have been fast to embed emerging technologies (AI, IoT, personal smart devices) across many sectors in our society, one of the biggest challenges we face is the fact that these systems continuously monitor our behaviour tracking vast amounts of personal data - from health activity, travel and food to culture consumption and shopping habits to name just a few.

With these automated systems being adopted more widely many decision making processes are left to these technologies increasing the risk of triggering not only new levels of surveillance, but also unfair profiling and discrimination. The need for transparent, equitable and accountable systems, as well as privacy standards and ethics frameworks is bigger than ever before.

We need to openly discuss and question who has the power to access or control these, who benefits, and whose lives are implicated. Who is responsible to “draw a line” and how can we respond to the societal and ethical implications of data and emerging technologies?

Our ambition is for organisations in the Greater Manchester region to take a lead in developing and adopting processes and frameworks that support the responsible deployment and use of such systems and technologies. It’s a collective cultural shift that needs contribution and expertise from all including private, public and third sector as well as academia in rethinking decision-making and product/service design processes, encouraging the adoption of transparent, trustworthy and diverse systems.

To achieve this we have designed a webinar focussing on data ethics, cybersecurity, privacy and governance with the purpose to inform and inspire change across all sectors as we hear from leading experts in these topics. Following the webinar, a workshop will take place inviting Greater Manchester SMEs to work with large organisations during our expert facilitated workshop to shape ideas into feasible solutions.

If you are a large organisation, public body or non-profit we want to hear from you; come forward and bring the biggest challenge you have related to the theme. We are here to support you identify and shape solutions. Register now >>

The event will be chaired by Manchester's globally renowned entrepreneur Vikas Shah MBE.

9.30 FutureEverything - Intro to Innovate Manchester and Innovation Lab process

9:35 Vikas Shah MBE - Webinar Chair

9.40 Prof Andy Miah - Keynote presentation

9.55 Thought Provocations

10.10 Panel Discussion (40 min + 10 Q&A)

11.00 Event ends

Innovate Manchester is an ambitious new events programme for Greater Manchester. The events are designed to bring together large organisations, SMEs, the public sector and academia to collaborate on new innovative ideas.

Through expert facilitation webinars and virtual Innovation labs, participants are invited to co-create innovative solutions towards a more sustainable future for all, responding to themes ranging from sustainability and industry 4.0 to data ethics and Human-Centric design.

Businesses looking to access specialist support can click here for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services.

Innovate Manchester and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.

Innovate Manchester is initiated in partnership with MIDAS and curated by FutureEverything.