THE FUTURE is made here
The Future of Knowledge is the Knowledge Quarter’s flagship annual conference, bringing the district’s world-class institutions under one roof to cut across silos and explore the future of knowledge and innovation.
One of the UK’s leading events focused on place-based innovation, it convenes senior leaders from academia, research, technology, life and physical sciences, culture, business and government, in the belief that innovation here isn’t sector based; it happens when different fields and life experiences meet. A geneticist, an archivist, an investor and a community organiser are often circling versions of the same problem, and the programme is built around exactly those overlaps, in curated cross-sector forums designed to forge new partnerships and open pathways for new areas of knowledge. The Future of Knowledge is where a decade of collaborative work comes together, and where we invite you to come and meet the makers advancing ideas, people and place.
At Central Saint Martins, creative practice is always connected. Community, within and beyond our walls, is our foundation. Over the last decade the Knowledge Quarter has been integral to the Central Saint Martins community and the impact we make locally and globally. The annual conference gives us the opportunity to think about transdisciplinary innovation in practice and how creativity – in partnership – can generate real, productive change.
Rathna Ramanathan
Provost, Central Saint Martins and UAL Executive Dean, Global Affairs
The Future of Knowledge is more than a conference. It’s where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and the future is shaped – together.
Jodie Eastwood
CEO, Knowledge Quarter
Our members
Individually, our members offer a dazzling
array of knowledge resources.
PROGRAMMe
The 2026 programme features up to five parallel streams, spanning workshops, panels and a partner expo, with delegates free to shape their day around conversations exploring the district’s culture, technology, investment and life around King’s Cross.
Programme Coming Soon.
About
The Knowledge Quarter is a cross-sector membership organisation that convenes, connects and advocates for the knowledge-creating institutions clustered within a one-mile radius of King’s Cross.
Independent of government and owned by no single institution, it brings together universities, research institutes, cultural organisations, technology companies and businesses, among them the British Library, the Francis Crick Institute, UCL, the Wellcome Collection and Google DeepMind, in a shared commitment to advancing ideas, people and place. The Knowledge Quarter represents one of the world’s leading innovation districts, generating £34 billion in annual GVA and drawing more than eight million visitors a year.
Partner with us
If you’re interested in becoming an event partner, we’d love to hear from you. You can download our partner brochure below or get in touch via email to find out more.
OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our conference partners.
OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our conference partners.