Technology is changing the world, and yet one of the leading contributors, the gaming industry, is often highly criticised and – more often than not – not even considered in the business landscape. But with the market value of the UK’s gaming industry a whooping £4.03bn in 2008 - it’s clearly a sleeping giant.

Gaming offers social, cultural and economic benefits to all that participate. The industry is being held back by a lack of scientists, mathematicians, artists, animators and designers which are needed in great numbers. The reality is that the child playing Super Mario today could be the designer of the next Tomb Raider in a few years time.

Commercially video games like Grand Theft Auto dwarfed block busters like Harry Potter, and Pirates and the Caribbean with more than 6 million units sold in the first week and a retail value of £500 million – but the UK is one of the few countries that does not have the economic support required to keep itself at the leading edge.

What are the implications to education, business, and the economy? Ian Livingstone, co-founder of EIDOS, our key note speaker will take us through a maze of opportunity and barriers to success, and all the hidden secrets in between.