As St John's Innovation Centre (SJIC) approaches its 40th anniversary, join us for a special Cambridge Tech Week fringe event exploring the legacy, impact and future of Europe's first innovation centre.

Bringing together the pioneers who helped create SJIC, the leaders driving its continued success today, and entrepreneurs shaping its future, this interactive panel discussion will examine how innovation ecosystems evolve and what ambitious technology companies need to succeed in an increasingly international marketplace.

From its origins as a bold experiment inspired by innovation models in the United States, SJIC has become one of the UK's most influential homes for high-growth technology businesses. Four decades on, it continues to evolve through new initiatives, international partnerships and innovative approaches to helping ambitious founders scale.

Kindly hosted by Mishcon de Reya, this lunchtime session brings together voices from across SJIC's 40-year journey. Chaired by Jen Richardson of Project Cambridge, the discussion will feature Walter Herriot OBE, SJIC's founding Managing Director, and Barnaby Perks, CEO of SJIC, alongside Daisy Jerebon, founder of Better Stronger, and Stephane Dufour of EPFL Innovation Park. Together, they will explore SJIC's evolution from a pioneering concept into a thriving innovation community, reflecting on lessons from the past, the realities of building and scaling a business today, and the future of innovation ecosystems. The discussion will examine how founder support, international partnerships, accelerator programmes and collaborative environments continue to help ambitious businesses grow and succeed in an increasingly connected world.