Cambridge, 17 June 2026 — St John’s Innovation Centre (SJIC) will open its doors as part of this year’s Cambridge Wide Open Day, delivering a dynamic programme that brings together innovators, community organisations and industry experts to explore the theme “Tech for Good: Past lessons; future choices.”
Running from 10:30am to 3:00pm, the event highlights SJIC’s strength as a convening space for collaboration, with a series of panels, interactive experiences and workshops designed to examine how technology can be shaped to deliver positive social and economic impact.
A central feature of the day is SJIC’s partnership with The Centre for Computing History, which brings a unique historical lens to contemporary innovation. Together, the two organisations will host a programme exploring how past technological developments can inform more responsible and ethical decision making today. The headline panel, “Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices” (11:00–12:00), will invite attendees to reflect on how historical insight can guide future innovation pathways.
Throughout the day, The Centre for Computing History will also deliver interactive retro gaming experiences and a drop-in session for founders, innovators and visitors. This activity forms part of a wider initiative to capture the values and challenges shaping Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem today, while testing the concept for a future large scale exhibition comparing past and present innovation cultures. Selected pieces from the museum’s Broken Tech: Broken Earth project will also be on display, reinforcing the environmental dimension of the “Tech for Good” theme.
The programme further expands its societal focus through collaboration with Cambridge Online, a leader in digital inclusion across Cambridgeshire. Cambridge Online will host a live Tech Amnesty, encouraging visitors to donate unwanted devices for reuse or recycling. The initiative highlights how extending the life of technology can support community access to digital tools while reducing environmental impact an increasingly important consideration in the innovation landscape.
Alongside these community focused partnerships, the event brings in global business expertise through Frazier & Deeter, who will lead a panel discussion (12:00–13:00) on international growth, investment and scaling opportunities for Cambridge based companies. Their session will provide practical insights into US expansion and fundraising strategies, offering valuable guidance to founders navigating growth beyond the UK market.
Frazier & Deeter are also recognised as the event’s lunch sponsor, supporting a networking session from 13:00–14:00 that will enable attendees to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships across the Cambridge ecosystem. Their contribution underscores the importance of cross border expertise and partnership in supporting local innovation success.
The day concludes with a high impact workshop delivered by Triple Chasm, led by Uday Phadke (14:00–15:00). This practical session focuses on bridging the critical gap between innovation and commercial success, equipping entrepreneurs with tools and frameworks to successfully translate ideas into scalable businesses.
Event Running Order – SJIC, 17 June 2026
- 10:30-11:00 – Refreshments and The Centre for Computing History interactive exhibition on the mezzanine
- 11:00–12:00 — SJIC Panel Discussion (Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices)
- 12:00–13:00 — Frazier & Deeter Panel (Cambridge Roots, US Shoots Scaling Tech for Good — spotting the right signals for international growth)
- 13:00–14:00 — Networking Lunch (sponsored by Frazier & Deeter) and The Centre for Computing History interactive exhibition on the mezzanine
- 14:00–15:00 — Triple Chasm Workshop with Uday Phadke (Tech for good: Fixing the commercialisation system for real impact)
All panels and workshops are free to attend, with advance booking required. The Centre for Computing History interactive exhibition on the mezzanine will run throughout the day from 10:30-15:00.
As part of Cambridge Wide Open Day, SJIC’s programme demonstrates how innovation thrives through partnership, connecting past insights, present challenges and future opportunities to shape technology that works for people, communities and the planet.