Aberdeen will play host to the landmark digital innovation event The Future of Digital Tech 2025 on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
The conference will bring together a line-up of the UK’s best founders, industry leaders, innovators, and investors in digital technologies to explore what drives entrepreneurial growth and technological advancement in modern Scotland.
The Times and Sunday Times Scotland will present the event in partnership with Opportunity North East (ONE) and the Scottish National Investment Bank.
The Future of Digital Tech will explore the strategic decision-making, market positioning, and operational excellence required to scale-up local successes into world-leading tech firms. In the turbulent funding landscape of today, attendees will learn how to attract vital investment for their remote software and industrial AI ventures and help shape the Scottish tech sector of tomorrow.
Aberdeen is rapidly establishing itself as a hotspot for emerging industrial AI, data, automation, and enterprise software companies, and is home to one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech clusters. With deep roots across the industries which power the UK economy, Aberdeen is the prime location to share ideas and shape the digital technologies of the future.
Among the speakers at the conference are Andy Pardoe, professor of AI and chair of the Deep Tech Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick; Chris Herd, founder of Firstbase; Jodie Sinclair, founder at Theo Health; and Martin Gilbert, chair of Revolut.
Jennifer Craw MBE, CEO of Opportunity North East (ONE), said: “North east Scotland’s digital tech cluster is an economic success story and national strategic asset. The North East Scotland Investment Zone’s dual focus on digital tech and green energy is recognition by Holyrood and Westminster of our tech cluster’s value and opportunity.
“Our entrepreneurial ecosystem has grown to more than 300 digital tech businesses and almost 5,000 people, led by founders with deep roots in key sectors, including energy, agriculture, food manufacturing, and life sciences. They are at the forefront of the industrial AI revolution, creating solutions that scale rapidly in international markets. We’ve seen the positive impact of innovation-driven enterprise. Now AI-driven enterprise is catalysing the next phase of growth.
“The Future of Digital Tech summit is a celebration and catalyst. Bringing founders, scale-up leaders, and investors together to create new connections and influence what happens next in the fastest growing sector of our economy.”
Mark Munro, Chief Investment Officer at the Scottish National Investment Bank, said: “Historically, Scotland has punched above its weight when it comes to developing world-changing innovation and technology. Continuing this rich heritage relies on fostering research and development and attracting the investment needed to scale technological advances.
“As an impact investor, we aim to invest in companies and people that will deliver both a financial return and societal benefits, so we are excited to support this conference, hear from founders and connect with other investors.”
The wide-ranging agenda at the conference will feature morning and afternoon sessions, including keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Highlights include:
- AI and The Future: Navigating the Digital Decade Ahead: Andy Pardoe – professor of AI and chair of Deep Tech Innovation Centre, University of Warwick, and head of AI Practice, Informed – looks ahead to where AI and digital tech are heading and what that means for startups, scaleup and other organisations and society.
- What Investors Look for in Scaling Applied Industrial AI and B2B SaaS: What investors look for when backing applied industrial AI and B2B SaaS ventures. Panellists include Ailsa Young, investment director at the Scottish National Investment Bank; Martin Gilbert, Revolut chair and executive chairman of River Global PLC; and Edward Keelan, partner at Octopus Ventures.
- From Startup to Scale: Building Globally Competitive Digital Tech: Chris Herd shares honest insights from his journey leading Firstbase – from early traction to acquisition.
- Growing Enterprise Technologies from the Regions: Challenges and Advantages: How regional innovation hubs foster entrepreneurship, connect talent, and create conditions for scalable tech businesses. Emily Arnold, Senior Associate, Founders at the University of Cambridge; Jennifer Craw MBE, Chief Executive at ONE; and Alisdair Gunn, Director at Glasgow City Innovation District will feature on the panel.
- Beyond the Breakthrough: Commercialising Digital Technology Innovation: Yan Zhang, advisor at Point72 Ventures, reveals how successful founders and their investors collaborate to build defensible market positions and sustainable revenue models.
- Teams that Succeed: Scaling Beyond the Founder for Growth: Edward Keelan, partner at Octopus Ventures, explains how smart founders evolve their leadership style, bring in senior talent, and shift from “doer-in-chief” to company builder – without losing their edge.
- Reinventing Knowledge Work: AI at the Heart of High-Stakes Sectors: Ross McNairn, CEO at Wordsmith AI, highlights how Wordsmith AI is building trusted automation for complex, regulated environments.
- Scaling in Complex Sectors: What Founders Need to Know: Drawing on her experience as founding CMO of Pharmacy2U Group, Maya Moufarek shares how founders can position their businesses to thrive in challenging markets.
Event Details:
Event:The Future of Digital Tech 2025
Date:Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Hosts: The Times and Sunday Times Scotland
Partners: Opportunity North East, Scottish National Investment Bank
