How can finance, technology and collaboration help tackle some of the biggest sustainability challenges facing society today?

From Sustainability reporting and investment to AI, digital infrastructure, water security and emerging regulation, organisations are navigating an increasingly complex landscape. At the same time, governments are investing in research and innovation to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable economy, creating new opportunities for collaboration between academia, industry and policymakers.

This Forum brings together business leaders, financial institutions, regulators, policymakers, researchers and innovators to explore the challenges shaping the future of sustainable finance and identify practical solutions that can make a real impact.

Why attend?

Whether you work in industry, academia, government or the third sector, you'll have the opportunity to:

Gain insight into the latest developments in sustainable finance and responsible AI.

Understand the major challenges facing organisations and where innovation is needed most.

Discover how finance and technology can help address issues such as climate resilience, energy demand, data centres, sustainability measurement and investment.

Learn about emerging funding opportunities and national priorities, including UKRI and Innovate UK programmes.

Connect with researchers, industry leaders, regulators and potential collaborators.

Help shape future research, innovation and partnerships that can deliver real-world impact.

Agenda for the Day

09:00 – 09:30 Registration, Coffee and networking

09:30 – 10:00 Welcome and introductions

Prof Karen Elliott, UKFin+ Director, University of Birmingham

Prof Paolo Missier, IDAI Director, University of Birmingham

Prof Liza Jabbour, BISCA Deputy Director, University of Birmingham

Prof Helen Onyeaka, BISCA Deputy Director, University of Birmingham

10:00 – 10:40 Keynote - Annabel Nelson, Sustainability Lead, Co-Labs

10:40 – 11:00 Collaboration and Funding Opportunities , Alasdair MacLachlan, Assistant Director of Research Partnerships, University of Birmingham

11:00 – 11:20 Refreshment break

11:20 – 12:00 Workshops: part 1 - Exploring paradoxes

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch and networking

13:00 – 14:00 Workshops: part 2

Exploration themes:

Is AI Too Thirsty?

Resilience and Regulating cloud providers

Priorities, Strategy, Incentives

Data, Tech, AI for Sustainability solutions

14:00 – 14:40 Workshop wrap-up. Sharing of key findings

14:40 – 15:00 Refreshment break

15:00 – 16:00 Test & Assess - Finding the common ground in business and research

16:00 – 16:30 Closing remarks, Next steps and recommendations

16:30 Reception

This forum is hosted by:

UKFin+ is an EPSRC-funded network that brings together academia, industry, regulators and policymakers to tackle complex challenges facing the financial services sector. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors, UKFin+ supports research and innovation that delivers real-world impact for the UK economy and society.

The Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA) connects world-leading expertise from across the University to deliver transdisciplinary research on sustainability and foster climate action. By bringing together researchers, industry, policymakers and wider society, BISCA drives impactful research and translates knowledge into action to address complex environmental, social and economic challenges.

The Institute for Data and AI (IDAI) promotes excellence in Data Engineering, Data Science and AI theory and practice, ensuring their co-evolution and competent adoption across disciplines to enable transformative, interdisciplinary, impactful data-intensive research. The Institute convenes researchers, educators and industry professionals around a shared ambition to address grand societal challenges through open collaboration across disciplinary boundaries

Drawing on the latest research and real-world experience, the programme combines expert analysis with practical solutions. Each session is designed to generate insights that can support both future research and better policies, governance, and investment practices.

Up to 20 travel bursaries of up to £200 are available for early career researchers on a first come, first served basis. We welcome applications from current PhD students as well as early career researchers (normally up to 8 years from obtaining a PhD, longer to account for career breaks). Proof of early career status is not required. Please e-mail ukfin@contacts.bham.ac.uk, if you would like to request an early career travel bursary.

Photography and videography will take place during the event. Please let us know if you have any concerns about being filmed or photographed.

If you have any dietary requirements or accessibility needs, please inform us in advance by email at: ukfin@contacts.bham.ac.uk

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