London Tech Week aims to become leading global festival of technology

(Source: Internet)

London Tech Week 2017 is set to be bigger and better than ever, with London & Partners announcing a new partnership with leading global events provider KNect365, part of Informa PLC. The new partnership will take Europe’s largest tech event to the next level, offering a wider range of events than previous years, including a new series of six major events at the ExCeL and a concert to celebrate the week.

Together, London & Partners and KNect365 aim to boost London Tech Week and make it one of the most successful tech festivals in the world, with the goal of attracting more than 100,000 visitors to the festival within the next three years. Hundreds of events will be hosted across the city from 12-16thJune 2017.

Building on the success of 2016, 2017’s events programme will also include conferences, showcases and forums, compelling content, speakers and networking opportunities and a greater opportunity for participation from start-ups, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, students and corporates alike.

The mega-festival will provide an opportunity for London to showcase its tech credentials on the world stage and show that #LondonIsOpen. In July, The Mayor was joined by a group of tech leaders to launch the #LondonIsOpen campaign to show London is united and open for business to the world following the EU referendum.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "London is a truly global tech hub, with a tech sector that sustains thousands of high quality jobs and an unrivalled pool of talented and creative people from all over the world. London Tech Week is a great opportunity to celebrate our ever-growing strength in tech, and the many fantastic entrepreneurs and innovators that help make our city the best place in the world to do business. I want London Tech Week to be Europe’s top tech event in 2017, highlighting that London is open for business, new investment and global talent.”

Sherry Coutu CBE, angel investor and London Technology Ambassador, added: “London is home to some of the best creative and tech talent in the world. As Europe’s fastest growing technology cluster, London is ideally situated to foster collaboration across the international tech community. As the industry continues to grow at a rapid pace it is important that we continue to attract the world’s best initiatives and events such as London Tech Week, which help to shine a spotlight on why London is the world’s leading city for technology and innovation.”

The new partnership between London & Partners and KNect365 will see Informa’s TechXLR8 portfolio of events incorporated into the London Tech Week programme. Informa’s TechXLR8 portfolio includes six major events such as Apps World, 5G World and VR & AR World Summit.

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive of Informa commented: “London Tech Week 2017 has all the ingredients to be a huge success. There’s a great backdrop – London, one of the most vibrant cities in the world – first class venues and ambitious plans for speakers and programming. It’s set to showcase the British and global digital industries at their best, and Informa is delighted to be playing a part in the Week.”

Since the launch of the initiative in 2014, London Tech Week has grown to become Europe’s largest festival of technology. Last year’s London Tech Week comprised over 300 individual events and attracted more than 40,000 visitors from all over the world.

London is one of the world’s leading technology hubs, employing more than 200,000 people and driving investment from across the globe. There are now more than 40,000 digital technology companies in the capital, with that figure expected to exceed 50,000 by 2025.

Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Partners, said: “London is a pioneer in the tech industry, producing companies and ideas that are changing the world and creating jobs and economic growth for the UK. Hosting this major event here acknowledges London’s achievements and shows that global attention is focused on what is being produced in our capital. Harnessing talent from every corner of the tech community, London Tech Week 2017 will boldly show off the success of London’s digital economy.”

Russ Shaw, Founder of Tech London Advocates, added: “London tech is going from strength-to-strength with outstanding startups and scaleups, fuelled by a supportive investor community. TLA is pleased to be a leading part in this next step towards an amazing tech festival to demonstrate the innovation, creativity and dynamism of London’s tech community. I was a founding partner of the first London Tech Week because I believe the city’s tech sector needs to be showcased on the world stage. London Tech Week 2017 will be the celebration our industry deserves.”

London Tech Week 2017 will be organised by London & Partners and KNect365, in association with founding partner Tech London Advocates, with support from strategic partners Tech City UK, ExCeL London, UKTI and techUK.