SMI Convention 2027: Liverpool

The SMI Annual Conference is evolving into the SMI Convention. Held at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool from 1-2nd March 2027, the Convention will bring together leaders, innovators, policymakers and industry partners from across the maritime sector for multiple days of discussion, networking, collaboration and business engagement.

Event Programme

Monday 1 March

• 1800- 2100  - Welcome Evening – innovation speed pitch and networking event

Tuesday 2 March

• 0900 - 1700 - SMI Convention 2027 at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool.
• 1900 - 2000 - SMI Convention 2027 Drinks Reception at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool - Rum Warehouse
• 2000 - 2300 SMI Convention 2027 Gala Dinner at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool - Rum Warehouse

Wednesday 3 March 

Optional visits to local maritime sites. At this stage, this is strictly indicative and to be confirmed. 

• locations TBC

Tickets

2027 Theme

The overall theme for 2027 is growth, investment and re-industrialisation. The UK is asking how it rebuilds industrial capability, and maritime has a direct answer. Across the daytime conference agenda, we want to show what is already working, where the opportunities sit, and how civil and defence capability, major programmes and the wider supply chain can be joined up more effectively.

The four themes of the conference will be:

1. Growth, Investment & Reindustrialisation
   How maritime contributes to the Government's growth mission, industrial strategy and regional economic development, and what conditions are required to unlock further investment in industrial capability. 
2. Delivery of the Shipbuilding & Maritime Technology Action Plan
   What the emerging National Shipbuilding Office agenda means for industry in practice. 
3. Industry-Led Growth in Practice: Innovating While Delivering
   How UK companies are winning work now whilst preparing for what comes next.
4. Security, Sovereign Capability & Resilience
   The industrial base required to support the Royal Navy, national security and critical maritime infrastructure

Call for Abstracts

Interested in presenting at the SMI Convention 2027? A call for abstracts is open, with the deadline of 16th October. A submission guidance document with full details can be found here.  

Why Attend?

• Proven record of attracting senior decision-makers: 85% of attendees in 2026 held a head-of-department-level role or above.
• Breadth of maritime industry in a single room: The four daytime conference sessions are built around key growth drivers for the UK enterprise. The aim is to facilitate conversations that stretch across all SMI workstreams and join up the dots.
• Access to a programme of activity - not just a conference: This is a multi-day programme intended to balance knowledge sharing with networking, across formal and informal settings. One convention ticket, access to the entire programme. 

• Designed to facilitate engagement: Built for participation, not observation, all held within a single hub and easily accessible from Central Liverpool.