The West Midlands is on the brink of becoming a ‘global tech superpower’, as it eyes creating a Silicon Valley-esque environment conducive for budding tech businesses.
At the inaugural Birmingham Tech Week, which drew over 7,500 attendees, the region’s tech commissioner, Martin Ward, expressed confidence in the West Midlands’ burgeoning tech start-up scene. Currently valued at an impressive £16bn, this sector is showing no signs of slowing down, even with London’s towering digital presence nearby.
During his address at HSBC UK’s offices, Ward emphasized TechWM’s ambitions – the body representing the region’s digital arena. Their goal? Establishing initiatives to forge a strong, supportive tech ecosystem. Ward passionately stated, “While some might see ‘global tech superpower’ as an overreach, I see it as a reality waiting to unfold through collaboration.”
Highlighting achievements, he noted:
- The West Midlands’ tech start-ups have a collective worth nearing £16bn.
- Many of these startups boast valuations exceeding £100m.
- Over the past couple of years, they’ve successfully garnered £1.5bn in venture capital.
- The region has birthed almost 3,000 startups, marking the UK’s swiftest tech company creation rate.
However, Ward pointed out the fragmented support system for these businesses. “For the Midlands to truly make its mark, we need a united front – a holistic ecosystem,” he stressed.
Drawing parallels, Ward referenced cities like Miami, Austin, and Dallas. Despite Silicon Valley’s omnipresence, these cities have flourished with booming tech sectors. Mirroring their trajectory, TechWM plans to introduce a tech accelerator at the iCentrum innovation campus, providing businesses with invaluable advice, funding, and skills resources. Moreover, special interest groups focusing on domains like AI and cybersecurity will facilitate collaboration, benefiting even non-tech entities.
On a closing note, Tech Nation’s Carolyn Dawson shared their ambition to channel £10bn into UK’s digital firms in the upcoming five years, with a significant portion directed to ventures outside London. Dawson reiterated Tech Nation’s commitment to fostering the next tech unicorns, promising to support startups from every UK corner to achieve global prominence.
In essence, the West Midlands, with its clear vision and unyielding spirit, is ready to chart its course as a paramount tech hub, rivaling even the best.