The West of England’s pioneering tech sector has been showcased to business leaders from India looking to build bilateral ties with the region.
The 30-strong delegation includes CEOs, presidents and directors from businesses at the forefront of cutting-edge computer technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and zero trust security.
The executives, who are looking to move jobs to the UK, want to find out more about the West of England’s thriving tech sector, which employs 80,000 people and has a rich heritage and history of innovations in technology.
They were welcomed to the Engine Shed tech hub in Bristol, pictured, by West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who heads the region’s combined authority.
The authority has ambitious plans to further develop the region as a tech powerhouse and a trailblazer in sustainability, while India is one of the key markets it is targeting for inward investment.
Mayor Norris, pictured, said he wanted to be a “jobs-first mayor” by putting the West of England on the map nationally and internationally.
He said: “New computer technologies present a huge challenge, but also a huge opportunity. How many of our future jobs will work with AI?
“It’s another vote of confidence in our enormous potential that these innovative companies have decided to come here to learn more about our world-leading tech sector.
“The message from the West of England is clear: we are open for business and we have the talent to help these companies grow and prosper, so come and invest here.”
The delegation went on to meet representatives of some of the region’s key tech centres of excellence today, including the Bristol Digital Futures Institute, the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre and Toshiba Bristol Research & Innovation Lab.
It was also due to hear about the support available from organisations like TechSPARK, SETSquared, Business West and Invest Bristol & Bath.
Supported by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, the delegation’s visit has been arranged by The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), an Indian trade association focused mainly on the country’s tech industry.
Established in 1988, NASSCOM represents the $245bn Indian tech industry. Yesterday it signed a memorandum of understanding with Manchester's inward investment agency MIDAS and Manchester Airport Group to promote investment, innovation and technological exchange.
The visit also comes a week after a report, published by techSPARK, the region’s largest tech network, revealed key issues for the sector.
As reported by Bath Business News, it celebrates recent achievements of businesses and individuals in the cluster, which now has more than 1,200 businesses spanning fintech, greentech, digital, cyber and deeptech among others.
However, it also concluded that a lack of interest among the West of England’s politicians in the sector, despite its strength, was holding it back compared to other regions.
At the same time, the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda was steering funding towards parts of the country with strong and supportive political leadership.
