Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to open 10th anniversary of London Tech Week
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will open the 10th anniversary edition of London Tech Week (12 - 16 June 2023) tomorrow morning. With over 30,000 delegates from 148 countries descending on the capital for the most influential tech event in the UK, London Tech Week serves as a reminder of the UK’s appeal to tech entrepreneurs and investors globally and why it continues to be the gateway to Europe.
“The UK sits alongside the US and China as a global tech superpower, with a tech sector valued at $1 trillion in 2022. We offer phenomenal infrastructure to tech entrepreneurs including a continuous flow of talent from some of the world’s top universities, plus high levels of skilled immigration, which attracts inward talent, as well as support from traditional corporates and strong access to capital,” said Founders Forum Group CEO Carolyn Dawson OBE.
“We are proud that over the last ten years, London Tech Week has become an open platform to support the growth of a thriving and resilient UK tech ecosystem. The largest festival in its history, this year we will welcome more global delegates than ever, including the best of UK tech. We are evermore excited to connect innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to drive positive change through technology. Watch this space for further announcements this week on our 2024 growth plans.”
UK Prime Minister at London Tech Week
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will set out why he thinks the tenth London Tech Week represents a moment of huge opportunity.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said: “As the tectonic plates of technology are shifting, it’s more important than ever that we build on our existing strengths and make the UK the best country in the world to start, grow, and invest in tech businesses.
“As a passionate believer that technology and innovation are the most powerful forces for making our world a better place, I’m delighted to be opening the tenth London Tech Week – already home to incredible start-ups, game-changing businesses and leading AI Labs.
“It’s my goal to create the right conditions for tech companies to thrive here – this island of innovation – which will help grow the economy, create jobs and ultimately, improve lives.”
The Prime Minister will also take part in a fireside chat with Demis Hassabis, CEO of London-based Google DeepMind. Google is currently investing in new headquarters in London’s King’s Cross.
The Mayor of London at London Tech Week
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will talk about the success of London’s tech sector over the last 10 years: “Over the past decade, our tech sector has grown to become an international success story, creating jobs and economic growth for all Londoners. This is highlighted by these new figures showing London remains a top destination for the very best international tech businesses. The tenth anniversary of London Tech Week is a great opportunity to celebrate our recent successes and I look forward to another decade of growth for our city’s tech sector, resulting in a better, more prosperous London for all.”
Tom Cuthell, Vice President, Global Festivals, Informa Tech Founders said: “2023 is our 10th anniversary and it is the year London Tech Week goes big. We launched the campus successfully in 2022 and now we are building London Tech Week into the UK’s biggest and best tech event. No other event unites the entire tech ecosystem like London Tech Week – startups, enterprise, and leaders – and that is what makes us unique. By bringing all those people into the same city at the same time and letting them network, share conversations, do deals and invest in one another - that's a really special thing.”
Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director for Grow at London & Partners said: “London’s tech ecosystem has matured in the past decade and is now not only recognised as a top place to start a tech company, but also a leading destination to rapidly scale a global tech business. The future looks bright for London tech and our strengths in high growth sectors such as fintech, health tech and climate tech mean we will continue to see lots of interest from international tech talent and investors. With a record number of international delegations coming into London for this year’s London Tech Week, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the very best of our capital’s tech ecosystem to the rest of the world.”
Russ Shaw CBE, Founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates: “After a decade of extraordinary growth, London has carved out the position as one of the world’s preeminent tech ecosystems. Not only is it a leading innovation hub, with great strides being made in tech verticals such as generative AI, climate tech and cybersecurity, but it also plays an important convening role for global tech leaders coming together to develop solutions for some of the most pressing issues of our time. In the midst of economic uncertainty, building these relationships is more important than ever – and London Tech Week’s tenth anniversary provides an important occasion to reflect on the importance of international collaboration and celebrate the power of technology entrepreneurship.”
