C:\>DIR Summit

A large, historic castle-like building with multiple towers and turrets, set against a blue sky with trees and greenery in the foreground.

Annual C:\>DIR Summit

A Global Convening on Digital Innovation and Regulation at an Iconic Setting  

The Cambridge Digital Innovation & Regulation Initiative (C:\>DIR) hosts its annual Summit at the University of Cambridge. This one-day, invitation-only gathering brings together senior regulators, market innovators and academics to collectively shape the future of regulation in the era of digital innovation.

The aim of the annual C:\>DIR Summit is to gauge both opportunities and challenges associated with the rapid digitalisation of markets and economies that transcend sectors and jurisdictions, and identify areas of common purpose, approaches and solutions. It is designed to contribute to the development of a coherent, resilient, and forward-looking digital future through dialogue, reflecting Cambridge’s tradition of rigorous inquiry, public purpose and global engagement.

The C:\>DIR Summit combines structured sessions - including keynotes and a moderated C:\>DIR panel discussion - with the opportunity for peer-to-peer engagement and collaborative reflection. A highlight of the summit is a Cambridge Union style debate on a prevailing topic concerning digital innovation and regulation.

All summit participants will also enjoy a candlelit dinner in the historic surroundings of Gonville & Caius College on the preceding evening, providing space to deepen conversations, reinforce relationships and strengthen the communities that underpin effective change.

The number of attendees is capped at 150. While the majority of participants are personally invited, a small number of places may be made available through an open application process.

A large dining hall with long banquet tables, filled with people dining. The room features high ceilings, wooden paneling, and framed portraits on the walls, illuminated with blue lighting.

C:\>DIR Dinner 2026: Thursday 17 September
Gonville and Caius College Dinning Hall

Historic building with columns in a park setting under a blue sky
Empty theater with red seats, a large screen, and ornate lighting fixtures.

C:\>DIR Summit 2026: Friday 18 September
Downing College Howard Theatre