⇒ Basic Information
Dates: 28-29 August 2026 (Friday and Saturday)
Venue: Ray Dolby Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0US
Theme: ABCP 2026 is themed “Partnership, Confidence, and Prosperity,” highlighting our commitment to fostering collaboration, strengthening trust, and driving sustainable success.
Hotel/accommodation information
Note: The ABCP 2026 lunch (Fitzwilliam College) and dinner banquet (St John’s College) will be hosted at the University of Cambridge.
⇒ Registration
The registration deadline of the Conference has now passed. We may still be able to consider accepting late registrations. Please write to abcp2026@mail.abcp.org.uk to discuss your case.
⇒ Call for Talks
The Conference is calling for talks for the following thematic tracks in the afternoon of Day 1 (Friday 28th August 2026). For AI and Cyber Security Track, talks on Day 2 (Saturday 29th August 2026) are also welcome.
- Advanced Manufacturing and Materials: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/rF9wss2qSy
- Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/zGLTEEMEU5
- Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/vbSuNCaS01
- Creative Industries: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/KN8r1H09xW
- Life Sciences and Health: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/am19ruLZQW
- Social Sciences and Humanities: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/fMqrDHmZ1j
- Transnational Education (TNE): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/cJHPPWHAFs
The current deadline for all the above calls is Wednesday 15th July 2026 11:59pm.
Although the deadline has passed, there may still be possible for some tracks to consider new talk proposals. Please contact Co-Chairs of the relevant Specialty Committee if you have a late talk proposal.
⇒ Contact Us
For general queries about the Conference, please contact the Organising Committee via abcp2026@mail.abcp.org.uk. For queries about thematic tracks in the afternoon of 28th August 2026, please contact the corresponding Specialty Committee.
⇒ Programme
Friday, 28 August 2026
08:30-9:30 Registration and Refreshments (Venue: Atrium)
09:30-10:00 Opening Ceremony Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium
Welcome speeches by
09:30-10:00 Opening Ceremony (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Professor Li Wei FBA MAE FAcSS, Executive Vice-President of ABCP; Executive Dean, UCL Institute of Education
- John Browne, The Lord Browne of Madingley FRS FREng, Chair of ABCP International Advisory Board (IAB) (Recorded video)
- Professor Kamal Munir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement, University of Cambridge (Recorded video)
Chair:
Professor Hua Zhao FREng FMCAE, Chair of Council, ABCP; Pro Vice Chancellor Research, Brunel, University London
Professor Zhanfeng Cui FREng FMedSci, Co-Chair of IAB, ABCP; Founding Director of OSCAR, University of Oxford
10:00-11:00 Plenary Session 1: Partnership, Confidence and Prosperity (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester; Member of ABCP International Advisory Board (IAB)
- Professor Luning Wang, Vice President, University of Science and Technology Beijing
- Professor Richard Parker CBE FREng, Former Director of Research & Technology, Rolls-Royce Group; Member of ABCP International Advisory Board (IAB)
- Dr Chen Zhao, Head of Science and Research, British Council (China)
- Ms Catherine Shipley, Senior Advisor (Education/Knowledge Economy), China-Britain Business Council
- Mr Harry Anderson, Deputy Director (Policy and Global Engagement) of Universities UK International
- Professor Jonathan Corne, Regional Postgraduate Dean, NHS England – Midlands
Co-Chairs:
Professor Li Wei FBA MAE FAcSS, Executive Vice-President, ABCP; Executive Dean, UCL Institute of Education
Professor Shujun Li, Vice-President for IT & Governance, ABCP; University of Kent, part of London and South East University Group
11:00-11:25 Group photo followed by refreshments (Venue: Atrium)
11:25-12:15 Plenary Session 2: Presentations from ABCP Institutional Members & Sponsors (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Professor Ping Cui, Director, Yongjiang Laboratory
- Professor Gongqi Shi, Vice President, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute
- Dr Shen Yan, Director of Technical Cooperation, Huawei UKRD
- Professor Haoliang Shen, Suzhou National Laboratory
- Mr Wei Wang, Chairman of East & West International Education Group
- Miss Xuan Guo, TusPark Holdings UK
- Mr Chen Xun, EARTHtrade UK
- Chaspark, China (Short video)
- Changshu HR Management Service Centre, China (Short Video)
Co-Chairs:
Professor Huiliang Li, Vice-President for Industrial Liaison & Fundraising, ABCP; UCL
Professor Qihai Huang, Vice-President for Finance, ABCP; University of Huddersfield
Dr Daxin Niu, Director of Business Development, ABCP
12:15-13:45 Lunch (Venue: Fitzwilliam College)
13:45-15:15 Parallel Thematic Tracks (I)
- Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security (Venue: Cluster Room)
- Creative Industries (Venue: Seminar North)
- Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability (Venue: Seminar West)
- Life Science and Health (Venue: Lecture Theatre)
- Social Science and Humanities (Venue: Seminar East)
- Transnational Education (Venue: Rayleigh Seminar Room, Maxwell Centre)
Co-Coordinators:
Professor Geoffrey (Ye) Li FREng, Vice-President for Speciality Committees, ABCP; Imperial College London
Dr Wen Wang, Co-Chair of Youth Committee, ABCP; University of Leicester
15:15-15:30 Refreshments (Venue: Atrium)
15:30-17:00 Parallel Thematic Tracks (II)
- Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security (Venue: Cluster Room)
- Creative Industries (Venue: Seminar North)
- Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability (Venue: Seminar West)
- Life Science and Health (Venue: Lecture Theatre)
- Social Science and Humanities (Venue: Seminar East)
- Transnational Education (Venue: Rayleigh Seminar Room, Maxwell Centre)
Co-Coordinators:
Professor Geoffrey (Ye) Li FREng, Vice-President for Speciality Committees, ABCP; Imperial College London
Professor Guanjie He, Co-Chair of Youth Committee, ABCP; UCL
18:30-21:00 ABCP Annual Conference Award – by the ABCP Council
Conference Dinner (pre-registration required; Venue: St John’s College)
Saturday, 29 August 2026
09:00-09:45 Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Venue: Lecture Theatre) by ABCP Standing Management Committee
Chair: Professor Lynda Jiwen Song, Vice-President & Secretary-General, ABCP; University of Leeds
09:45-10:00 Refreshments (Venue: Atrium)
10:00-11:00 Panel Discussion 1 – Knowledge and Technology Transfer Forum (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Professor Luning Wang, Vice President, University of Science and Technology Beijing
- Professor Ping Cui, Director, Yongjiang Laboratory
- Professor Gongqi Shi, Vice President, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute
- Mr Xiandong Liu, Director of Baosteel European R&D Center
- Professor Li Wei FBA MAE FAcSS, Executive Vice-President of ABCP; Executive Dean, UCL Institute of Education
- Professor Tao Chen, Associate Vice-President, International, University of Surrey
- Professor Junjie Wu, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Aston University
Moderator:
Professor Huabing Yin, Vice-President for EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), ABCP; University of Glasgow
11:00-12:15 Panel Discussion 2 – Early Career Development (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
- Professor Zhanfeng Cui FREng FMedSci, Co-Chair of IAB, ABCP; Founding Director of OSCAR, University of Oxford
- Professor Hongbiao Dong FREng, President of ABCP; 125th Anniversary Chair, University of Birmingham
- Professor Li Wei FBA MAE FAcSS, Executive Vice-President of ABCP; Executive Dean, UCL Institute of Education
- Professor Kaihong Luo FREng, Chair of Energy Systems, UCL
- Professor Zhibing Zhang FREng, Co-Director of the China Institute, University of Birmingham; Member of ABCP International Advisory Board (IAB)
- Professor Hua Zhao FREng, Chair of Council, ABCP; Pro Vice Chancellor, Brunel University London
Moderator:
Professor Shangfeng Du, Vice-President for Events, ABCP; University of Birmingham
12:15-12:30 Concluding Remarks (Venue: Ray Dolby Auditorium)
Professor Hongbiao Dong FREng, President of ABCP; 125th Anniversary Chair, University of Birmingham
12:30-14:00 Lunch (Venue: Fitzwilliam College)
14:00-17:00 Parallel Thematic Tracks (III)
- Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security (Venue: Cluster Room)
- Youth Committee meeting (Venue: Seminar West)
Co-Coordinators:
Professor Shujun Li, Vice-President for IT & Governance, ABCP; University of Kent, part of London and South East University Group
Dr Wen Wang, Co-Chair of Youth Committee, ABCP; University of Leicester
Professor Guanjie He, Co-Chair of Youth Committee, ABCP; UCL
⇒ Organising Committee
- Professor Tao Chen, University of Surrey
- Professor Hongbiao Dong FREng, University of Birmingham
- Professor Shangfeng Du, University of Birmingham (Chair)
- Dr Shaoliang Guan, University of Cambridge
- Professor Guanjie He, University College London
- Professor Qihai Huang, University of Huddersfield
- Professor Huiliang Li, University College London
- Professor Jeoffrey Li FREng, Imperial College London
- Professor Shujun Li, University of Kent, part of London and South East University Group
- Professor Li Wei FBA MAE FAcSS, University College London
- Professor Lynda Jiwen Song, University of Leeds
- Professor Li Su, University of Cambridge & University of Sheffield
- Dr Bo Tian, University of Leicester
- Dr Wen Wang, University of Leicester
- Professor Huabing Yin, University of Glasgow
⇒ Collaboration Partners
⇒ Sponsors
