Hampshire & Solent LSIP, part of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce were delighted to sponsor Solent FutureScape 2026, held in March at the King’s Conference Centre in Hedge End.
The event welcomed more than 500 delegates for a full day of demos, panels, fireside chats and exhibitions designed to help SMEs adopt AI and emerging technologies. Attendees praised the event’s practical insights and clear, supportive approach to innovation.
A standout attraction was Titan the Robot, whose humour and futuristic performance drew large crowds and sparked lively conversations about the future of automation and robotics.
Waseem Mirza hosted the Intelligent Innovation Panel and offered an inspiring reflection on the day:
“I thought it was absolutely amazing… yes, new things can be daunting… (but) AI and innovation don’t have to be… the more you understand something new, the less daunting it feels… AI is a tool that can help us imagine our futures… it’s here, it’s now, and we need to grasp it with both hands to succeed in the future.”
Waseem – an award‑winning technology presenter and former BBC Click reporter – brought deep expertise in explaining emerging tech and its real‑world impact.
Felix Manoharan, Vice President at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, shared why he joined the programme: to help SMEs understand how scalable cloud and AI technologies can open new opportunities, streamline operations and unlock capabilities previously accessible only to major enterprises. His fireside chat provided delegates with practical routes to adopting cloud and AI at a pace that suits them.
Delegates enjoyed hearing from Dame Wendy Hall, Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and one of the UK’s most respected leaders in AI, Web Science and digital governance. As co-chair of the UK Government’s AI Review and advisor to governments worldwide, she offered a frank and balanced look at both the promise and the challenges of AI – emphasising responsible, people centred adoption.
Throughout the day, delegates explored:
- Live demonstrations of AI across sectors
- Panels and fireside chats turning complex concepts into accessible guidance
- An innovation marketplace showcasing solutions from regional SMEs
- Support for digital skills and capability building
The event succeeded in giving SMEs a welcoming, practical environment to explore technology without pressure. With its high‑calibre speakers, energetic atmosphere and strong regional focus, Solent FutureScape 2026 has firmly established itself as a flagship moment in the Solent’s digital future.
About Solent Growth Partnership
Solent Growth Partnership (SGP) is an upper tier local authority partnership between Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton Councils that brings together local industry, private sector organisations and academic leaders across the Solent to work together as a collective to provide what is needed to deliver prosperity, profitability and sustainability to our region.
Working together, we have a focused ambition. We want the Solent to become a world-class, innovative, dynamic low-carbon economy – a collective powerhouse that targets the long-term goals set out in the Solent Growth and Prosperity Strategy.
The Solent Business Growth Service is delivered by SGP, and it promotes and encourages the simplification of business support across Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton. It provides programmes of expert support focused on growth and productivity, to businesses based in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and is funded by the Department for Business and Trade. The Solent Growth Hub is a component of a wider business support programme delivered by Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton Councils.
About Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. With a strategic vision to ‘unlock Hampshire’s potential’, Hampshire Chamber brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of the county’s three former major chambers. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business. Member services include training, advice, international trade documentation, events, networking opportunities and lobbying to policymakers on issues affecting business. Hampshire Chamber’s business network is designed to help any employer to grow and thrive irrespective of their stage on the enterprise journey.