The CEO of the world’s biggest technology trade show has slammed the UK government over a lack of support for its technology startups.
The annual four-day CES show begins this week in Las Vegas and Gary Shapiro, who has criticised previous UK governments for failing to send companies there in past years, has put the boot in again.
CES expects to welcome 100,000 visitors who are keen to experience the latest developments in technology.
“Britain does not participate as strongly at CES as other western European countries like France and the Netherlands, which are really well represented,” said Shapiro, as reported by The Times.
“The British presence has been spotty, which is surprising to me.”
Last year he said the failure of the Labour government to support CES was “kind of crazy”. Twelve months on, he said: “I think they’re so focused on just survival and other things.”
He pointed to the attendance of French President Emmanuel Macron as an example the UK should be following.
“Macron has been to the show twice. Even in the French government, which seems to be in some disarray, we’ll have some cabinet ministers.
“We’ll have the prince of the Netherlands. We’ll have cabinet ministers from the Netherlands. They’re also in disarray, and that’s every government, including our own government, is having big issues in these western democracies.
“But there’s still a focus on the future.”
In 2021, the then Conservative government cancelled the Tradeshow Access Programme, which provided grants of up to £2,500 to enable SMEs to attend such events.
The number of UK exhibitors has fallen from more than 100 in 2019 to fewer than 30 this year.
“I see a lack of government involvement. And it doesn’t have to be money.
“Do your relevant cabinet ministers show up at the world’s largest innovation event? That’s been a disappointment for us.
“In the last ten years… it’s been very, very low, compared to Britain’s neighbours.”