Britain is a ‘global tech SUPERPOWER’, Nadine Dorries claims at London Tech Week ahead of release of new digital strategy
- Nadine Dorries made the keynote speech to open London Tech Week today
- She arrived in an autonomous vehicle, and described it as ‘absolutely safe’
- She claims the new digital strategy will reinforce UK as ‘tech superpower’
Britain is a ‘global tech superpower’, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has claimed.
Dorries made the claim during her keynote address at London Tech Week, ahead of the release of the UK’s new digital strategy.
‘I’m delighted to announce the new UK digital strategy,’ she said. ‘The new road map will reinforce Britain’s status as a global tech superpower.’
Britain is a ‘global tech superpower’, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has claimed at London Tech Week
UK tech startups raise £12.bn in funding
The £12.4 billion in funding raised so far this year puts the UK second only to the US in terms of start-up investment, and ahead of the likes of China, France and India.
The figures show that 950 UK tech start-ups have raised £12.4 billion this year, compared to £12 billion raised across the whole of 2020.
Ms Dorries arrived at London Tech Week in an autonomous vehicle, and reassured attendees that she felt ‘absolutely safe’ in the driverless car.
She highlighted new figures released today that show UK tech companies have raised more venture capital funding in the first five months of 2022 than in the whole of 2020.
The £12.4 billion in funding raised so far this year puts the UK second only to the US in terms of start-up investment, and ahead of the likes of China, France and India.
‘Our small island is now only second to the US, and almost at the very top of the global league table,’ she said.
The figures show that 950 UK tech start-ups have raised £12.4 billion this year, compared to £12 billion raised across the whole of 2020.
The UK is now home to 122 unicorns – start-ups valued at one billion pounds or more – with more than 20 cities and towns now home to at least one unicorn.
London, Bristol and Oxford were also named in the top 20 cities in Europe for investment.
Ms Dorries said: ‘It is a staggering achievement that UK tech companies are attracting more investment than countries more than ten times our size.
‘This is a huge vote of confidence in the talent behind great British tech and the innovative, competitive market that we have here.’
While details of the new digital strategy remain unclear, Ms Dorries revealed that it will focus on data reform and artificial intelligence.
Russ Shaw, founder of industry groups Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, said: ‘As we head into London Tech Week, it’s great to see the strength and resilience of the entire UK tech ecosystem, not just London’s.
‘Data like this is important to showcase where we are but it also helps motivate us to do better – we want to see more diverse founders and more impact companies launching to take on the difficult global situations we’re facing.
‘And if there’s anywhere that can do that successfully, it’s UK tech.’
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