Member Article

Region Calls On Government For Digital Innovation Policies To Support Growth

Yesterday (Tuesday 9 January, 2024) saw a West Midlands delegation head to Houses of Parliament for the launch of a report that sets out the asks of the next UK Government. The Ecosystems of Innovation report, delivered by the UK Tech Cluster Group, presents four big ideas to ensure that each region of the UK is supported to grow.

The West Midlands assembly was led by Yiannis Maos MBE, CEO of TechWM, which is part of the UK Tech Cluster Group. Bringing together tech organisations from every region and nation of the UK, the UK Tech Cluster Group’s Parliamentary reception called upon central Government to commit to four key areas that will harness tech’s potential across the UK regions.

Hosted by Alex Davies-Jones MP, with an appearance from Saqib Bhatti – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy and MP for Meriden, West Midlands – the report focuses on social mobility and growth, fuelled by:

• A globally competitive tech talent pipeline in every region: ensuring the economy delivers opportunity for all and drives social mobility by unlocking tech talent.
• Driving digital innovation at the foundations: ensuring every business can understand and benefit from the opportunities that tech offers.
• A UK Innovation Policy which gives every place a chance: by embedding digital tech at the heart of regional development strategies and incentivising collaboration.
• Mobilising ecosystems to help businesses to start and grow: by recognising that ‘place’ matters, and tech communities can underpin the success of devolution.

Yiannis Maos MBE, Founder and CEO of TechWM and member of the UK Tech Cluster Group, said:

“This report has been a truly collaborative project; bringing together grassroots leaders from across the UK to identify the key priorities that we need from the Government to ensure that our regions can reach their true potential. As we enter General Election year, it’s key for us to place a focus on central leadership and be bold in our ask.

The West Midlands is the home of innovation: we were at the heart of the first industrial revolution and have invention in our DNA. This is now seen through the tech titans and visionary entrepreneurs that make up our unique ecosystem. It’s crucial that we do everything that we can to harness the innovation within the region, whilst also calling upon Government to help us use these opportunities to fuel our rise as a global tech hub.

I’m really excited to see the report launch and I can’t wait for TechWM to drive forward these big four ideas alongside our strategic partners and patrons.“

Alex Davies-Jones MP, who hosted the events and welcomed guests, commented:

“Ensuring all people and businesses across the UK can participate in and benefit from a growing digital economy is vital to our shared success.

“This report from the UK Tech Cluster Group outlines four crucial ways in which Whitehall, local leadership, and industry can better work together to help every place to reach their potential.

“New technologies can support and grow businesses in all corners of our country and offer opportunities for exciting new careers in every community. But we need to work together to ensure national policy encourages local innovation. I welcome this report at a crucial juncture for our economy.”

At the end of 2023, Tech WM – the non-profit organisation that acts as the voice of the West Midlands’ tech sector – announced £1million investment into the region’s ecosystem over the next 12 months. This includes a new tech acceleration programme to help start-ups become fully-fledged global scale-ups; an online tech showcase and ecosystem platform to help businesses navigate the ecosystem effectively; a tech hub based in Birmingham’s technology quarter; and a new Digital & Tech Strategy for the region.

The full UK Tech Cluster Group Ecosystems of Innovation report can be found on the UK Tech Cluster Group website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Claire Bryson .