The second annual Emerging Tech Conference was held this fall at the iconic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in downtown Roanoke. The two-day, tech-driven event took place October 30 and 31 and drew more than 450 participants and 80 speakers—nearly doubling last year’s attendance!
“This year’s Emerging Tech Conference exceeded all expectations. We saw an outstanding turnout and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. It was truly a success in bringing together partners from across the ecosystem to strengthen relationships, spark new collaborations, and continue building momentum for our region’s tech community,” said RBTC program coordinator Alla Daniel.
Described as “excellent,” “action-packed,” and “valuable,” this year’s conference featured thought leaders from globally recognized companies who shared unique insight on the issues and opportunities surrounding emerging technology. “The quality of the speakers and depth of knowledge for each was excellent,” one attendee shared in their post-event survey.
AI continued to be a hot topic at this year’s conference as leaders from around our regional ecosystem work to integrate its potential into their respective industries. The conference tracks were also expanded to encompass the diversity of the regional innovation ecosystem. Participants could choose from 10 different tracks that customized their experience to their needs and interests that encompassed AI, biotech, cybersecurity, manufacturing, startups, STEM-H, and talent.
Of particular note this year was the cybersecurity track produced in partnership with Radford University who took the lead in developing rich and valuable programing. The collaboration drew many educators and students from across the mid-Atlantic region.
The new STEM-H and talent sessions complemented the partnership with Radford and catered to educators and new grads alike. RBTC carefully designed the talent track to facilitate early-career job seekers through custom job report and outreach. Nearly all college students in attendance at ETC and 7 local employers participated in the talent sessions.
ETC kicked off with signature and high-quality networking before moving to the first keynote of the conference. From there, participants enjoyed stimulating breakouts, roundtables, discussions, and even an immersive alley that showcased the inspiring work happening in the region. “I thoroughly enjoyed the keynote speakers, networking and the panels that I attended,” said one participant.
The Emerging Tech Conference is quickly becoming a premier opportunity for connection and development Southwest Virginia’s innovation space and we couldn’t be more thrilled! At RBTC, we’re always rolling out ways to grow and connect. Check out our dynamic calendar of events and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss an update.
Save the Date: ETC 2026 will take place on November 19 & 20. See you there!
