LONDON TECH WEEK 2023: A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM

A packed schedule of key political and figures from the technology world gave purpose and generated much food for thought at London Tech Week 2023, writes Sheryl Hickey

London Tech Week 2023 set out to position the UK as an epicentre for innovation and technology, across all sectors. The three-day event presented global thought leaders, cutting-edge innovators and tech experts who gave powerful insights into hot topics including Web3, the metaverse, digital transformation, green innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity in tech, scaling start-ups and what AI means for the tech workforce.

The event featured key areas such as the Enterprise zone and the Transformation Stage, the Start-Up Zone with tech demos and solutions from exhibitors, the Next Tech and Growth Stage, masterclasses and innovation hubs, and the networking-focussed Leaders Zone.

UK: Start Up, Scale Up
The main stage hosted a fireside chat with Keir Starmer who gave his thoughts on the rapid acceleration of AI and who this will benefit rather than hinder, “I’m really struck by the speed, of acceleration, of development of AI and we need to put ourselves in a position to take advantage of great benefits, but guard against the risks.”

He went on to answer tricky questions about jobs that are now being done by AI, stressing the importance of being clear about how it will affect employment. He believes that that the world is “nowhere where we need to be in terms of legislation… (We are) planning for rapid change and at the moment we don’t have that in place.”

Hailing the UK’s tech success stories, Starmer claimed: “We’re third in the world and we’ve got amazing tech going on the UK, we need to be clear about that and make sure we don’t lose that.” He also expressed his keenness to keep tech innovation within the UK, “We want to create the environment in which it will be possible to start up, to scale up, where we can attract the sorts of innovation and build on what we’ve got… The single most important thing is building the economy,” but emphasised the significance that governments are still needing a long term plan.

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The overall emphasis of London Tech Week 2023 was a sense of intensive innovation and rapid technological change, juxtaposed against the need to build more inclusive and sustainable practices.

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