A few days ago, I posted on LinkedIn, X, and Reddit/fpga about the idea of hosting a UK FPGA conference later in the year. I believe there is a need for such an event, as there are several very successful ones in Germany (FPGA Conference), Norway (FPGA Forum), and Sweden/Denmark (FPGA World). It is something the UK lacks, and we have a vibrant FPGA community.
Judging from the overall response to my posts, I think there is clear demand for a UK-based conference, so I am going to organize one.
At the moment, here is what I have pulled together by talking to several people, vendors, and individuals with experience in putting on events like this:
Time Frame: To be confirmed, but it will likely be in late September or early October. This gives me time to organize the event and ensures it will occur after the summer vacations.
Duration: Initially, the conference will be one day. If it is successful, next year, I will look at holding it over two days if there is sufficient demand.
Location: London. This has been debated a lot, but it needs to be central with good public transport links.
Costs: I will try to keep the event as low-cost as possible. While I do not expect to make a profit, I would like to break even. Therefore, there will be a small attendance fee, under £100.
Vendor Exhibition: Of course, I want vendors and companies to attend to showcase their tools, boards, capabilities, etc. It’s a great opportunity for engineers to see demos and discuss their projects and needs.
Startup/User Exhibition: Got a cool FPGA startup project or side project you want to showcase and discuss? We will make sure there is space for you to display your work.
Tracks: The number of tracks will depend on how many people are prepared to speak. I want engaging talks on real-world FPGA projects, techniques, and solutions—not marketing pitches. I want attendees to leave having learned something useful for their day-to-day work. Potential areas of interest include:
Verification
Continuous Integration
Open Source
High Reliability: Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Space, Security
High-Frequency Trading
RF Signal Processing
Image/Signal Processing
Control Techniques
Digital Power
Robotics
Unusual Use Cases of FPGAs
Working with Embedded Processors
AI/ML in the Real World (e.g., Anomaly Detection0
What do you want to speak about ?
Of course, speakers will get free entry, and I will arrange some cool speaker gifts. At the very least, you will leave with an Adiuvo Embedded System Development Board.
One important thing is to come up with a cool-sounding name for the event. So far, the shortlist includes:
FPGA Engage
FPGA Academy
FPGA Institute
Reconfigure UK
FPGA Fusion
If you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them. Let me know which one is your favourite.
I want this to be the best FPGA conference possible, so that we can run learn and run it again in 2026. If you have suggestions for things you’d like to see at the event (e.g., an area with dev boards for experimenting), please let me know.
If, after reading this, you are interested in attending, presenting, or having a stand, I am trying to gauge the level of interest and build a wait list of people interested. It will help me determine size, tracks, capacity, etc so please do reach out.
Please drop me an email at adam@adiuvoengineering.com or use the contact form on the website to reach out, and I will get back to you soon.
Once I have a final date and location, there will be an event website so we can keep everything focused.