about

IP-City was formed in 2000 by a group of businesses and organisations working in partnership in the hi-tech sector across the Ipswich area. Following the launch, over 300 businesses and support organisations joined, all playing their part in making the area a focus for hi-tech enterprise and commercial competitiveness.

Over the past 18 months there has been an ongoing review of the IP-City and C2I (Cambridge 2 Ipswich Hi-Tech Corridor) initiatives, which have now been combined into The IP-City Network. The intention of the review was to revitalise these enterprise and innovation networks to help further connect hi-tech businesses in the Haven Gateway and Suffolk area.

Led by Julian Harris, Chair of The IP-City Network Steering Group, meetings were held with EEDA and private companies with a view to securing funding to host a series of high profile events, the main aim of which would be to build a strong database of proactive companies keen to rejuvenate this B2B Network initiative.

It was subsequently confirmed that BT were interested in hosting a series of high profile events at Adastral Park, under the overarching title of ‘Networking in the 21st Century’. The intention is that these events will help to determine the market demand and appetite amongst the business community and public organisations for the formation of a progressive hi-tech b2b network.

Networking in the 21st Century will act as a springboard to get The IP-City Network back up and running, building a solid database of innovative, proactive companies that are keen to be part of an exciting network in the wider Suffolk and Haven Gateway areas.

Decisions about future funding to support the continuation of these activities still need to be made. However, there are a variety of possible options available and these major events, in association with BT, help prove the case that demand exists in Ipswich and Suffolk for a proactive innovation and enterprise network focused on hi-tech businesses.

Find out more about 'Networking in the 21st Century' and other planned supporting events in the Events section.