The UK has been ranked the fourth most promising market for technology breakthroughs that have a global impact, according to a new report from KPMG.
The UK trails slightly behind the US, China and India, according to KPMG’s 2017 global technology innovation report.
Despite the uncertainty presented by Brexit, the UK jumped significantly from seventh last year in the global rankings.
According to the report, the UK is seen by the global business executive respondents as progressing with innovative tech hubs, showing progress in the development of products and services that can break through in developed and emerging markets.
Graham Pearce, head of technology in the North at KPMG UK said: “The research shows the UK’s technology sector drew more investment than that of any other European country, and the North West has played an important part in this.
“The region’s growing biotech, advanced manufacturing and low-carbon energy technology sectors are great indicators that it will continue to be a lynch-pin of the UK technology market.”
BusinessCloud has teamed up with KPMG in its bid to unearth the nation’s most promising technology start-ups.
The professional services giant has thrown its weight behind our #startup150 campaign, which will scour the nation to find the hottest young companies in each region.
“The North West’s infrastructure is more geared towards international investment than ever before,” added Pearce.
“The launch of the first direct flight between Manchester and San Francisco is a high-profile example. It exemplifies growing international interest in the region.
“Last year we saw a number of overseas businesses and investors snapping up tech assets, such as LANDesk’s acquisition of AppSense and JMI Equity’s investment into Acevto.
“Meanwhile what is also important is the private and public sector linking together to promote the sector.
“The Manchester Tech Trust, for example, is an invaluable commercial advisor and connector for the city’s tech entrepreneurs and KPMG is proud to be a partner.
“The Government’s £2 billion R&D fund for emerging tech, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, is also hugely encouraging and will make a real difference to the North West and the UK being seen as a tech destination of choice for scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and tech companies.”
The survey also asked to name the top global technology innovation visionaries.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, topped the list, with Apple CEO, Tim Cook, in second, followed by Alibaba Chairman, Jack Ma, Alphabet CEO, Larry Page and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai who tied for third. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, stood alone in the sixth, with Bill Gates and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tied in seventh, followed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in ninth.