# Event Details - **Event Name**: Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 21 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Thu, 21 May, 2026 at 07:30 pm (+01:00) - **Event Description**: Roland Harwood explores the journey of starting and scaling ecosystems.About this EventIn this session, Roland Harwood will explore the role and journey of the people who start ecosystems: those unusual individuals who connect founders, investors, institutions, corporates and communities early enough, and often persistently enough, to turn fragmented activity into shared momentum. Drawing on his work across innovation, systems design and community building, Roland brings a practical perspective on what it really takes to catalyse an ecosystem and help it grow with purpose. He is currently Community Lead at Milestone Systems, where his work sits at the intersection of technology, trust and collaboration. He has also helped build and activate the Climate Tech SuperCluster, a cross-border effort to connect talent, technology and investment around climate innovation, and he connects the Net Zero Living network of 59 towns and cities working towards Net Zero.The talk will reflect on the people behind ecosystems: not only entrepreneurs, but also conveners, translators, brokers and champions who create the conditions for others to succeed. It will consider how these ecosystem starters spot patterns, assemble unlikely alliances and sustain energy over time, especially in complex fields where innovation depends on coordination as much as invention. This promises to be a thoughtful discussion about leadership beyond hierarchy, and about how ecosystems begin, evolve and endure because certain people choose to make connection, trust and collective progress their life’s work.SpeakerDr Roland Harwood is a compulsive connector of people and ideas, working at the intersection of smart cities, climate-tech, and ethical AI. He is the Community Lead at Milestone Systems (part of the Canon Group), where he helps build a global network of startups and cities focused on generative AI and ethical insights based on video data through Project Hafnia, and the CEO of Liminal (a certified B Corp) and the co-founder of the Climate Tech Supercluster, which collaborates across five countries and four sectors, and convenes the Net Zero Living community of 59 towns and cities.In addition, he is a visiting lecturer at several Universities, a Trustee of the Participatory Cities Foundation, a Design Council Expert, an Advisory Board Member of the Harvard Business Review, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a podcaster ('On The Edge') and a writer. He has previously co-founded and led an award-winning open innovation agency, and holds a PhD in Physics. Latstly but most importantly, he is a proud and exhausted father of three.DetailsThis event is open to all and free to attend - please book your place.This event is organised in collaboration between Wolfson College Research Networks and the Innovation Ecosystems Network.AccessThis event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.ContactIf you have any questions, please contact our events team - events@wolfson.cam.ac.ukWolfson College Research NetworksThe Wolfson College Research Networks are the College’s central hub for research activity, fostering excellence in learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Organising and curating a diverse programme of academic events, the Research Networks support the College’s research hubs and initiatives, and facilitates knowledge exchange by connecting scholars across disciplines within Wolfson, the wider University, and industry.To receive updates on forthcoming events and opportunities, please subscribe to our mailing list.Innovation Ecosystems NetworkThe Innovation Ecosystems Network convenes expertise and research on strategies, policies, and practices for successful innovation and entrepreneurship outcomes in cities, regions, and nations. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/cambridge/starting-ecosystems-turning-connections-into-momentum/100001988481843723 - **Event Categories**: art, business, fine-arts, literary-art, artificial-intelligence - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Cambridge - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Wolfson College, University of Cambridge - **lat**: 52.1982458 - **long**: 0.100967 - **full address**: Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, Barton Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/69a146a7ee31257544f11a27bc5cf4799a1be24bfc97c3c707f21595ef8d439a-rimg-w1200-h674-dcf3f4f6-gmir.jpg?v=1777982970 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum being held? - **A:** Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum takes place on Thu, 21 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Thu, 21 May, 2026 at 07:30 pm at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, Barton Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum? - **A:** Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum is organized by Wolfson Events. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Cambridge, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Starting Ecosystems: Turning Connections into Momentum", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/69a146a7ee31257544f11a27bc5cf4799a1be24bfc97c3c707f21595ef8d439a-rimg-w1200-h674-dcf3f4f6-gmir.jpg?v=1777982970", "startDate": "2026-05-21T18:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2026-05-21T19:30:00+01:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/starting-ecosystems-turning-connections-into-momentum/100001988481843723", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Wolfson College, University of Cambridge", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Barton Road", "postalCode": "CB3 9BB", "addressLocality": "Cambridge", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "52.1982458", "longitude": "0.100967" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Roland Harwood explores the journey of starting and scaling ecosystems.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-05-04", "availabilityEnds": "2026-05-21T19:30:00+01:00", "validFrom": "2026-05-04", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "0.00", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/starting-ecosystems-turning-connections-into-momentum/100001988481843723" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-05-04", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-05-04", "url": "https://allevents.in/cambridge/starting-ecosystems-turning-connections-into-momentum/100001988481843723", "price": 0, "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Wolfson Events", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/wolfson-events/23934509", "description": "General events at Wolfson" } ] } ] ```