AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET JUNE 2017 FUTUREOFTECH.CO.UK READ See what’s happening day-
to-day during #LTW
PLEXAL OPENS its doors to mark
the start of #LTW
ONLINE Exclusive content from
London Tech Week ambassadors
London Tech Week
“London is Europe’s leading technology hub. Our talent, diversity, entrepreneurial spirit and global connections put us at the heart of digital technology. London Tech Week 2017 will be a fantastic opportunity to show that London is open to collaboration, innovation and ideas that could change the way that all Londoners live and experience the city.” Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
Where creativity, talent and innovation come together 12-16th June 2017 londontechweek.com
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Zoe Osmond, LTW festival director on what to look out for in 2017
Plexal opens its door to mark the start of London Tech Week 2017
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ONLINE: For a full list of events visit londontechweek.com for cover
London Tech Week – a dynamic showcase for a global tech capital Laura Citron, Chief Executive of London & Partners, reveals why London Tech Week is such an important date in the international tech calendar. Why is London Tech Week so important for the capital? London Tech Week is Europe’s largest festival of technology and the one time of year when the whole of London comes together to present itself as a global tech capital. This is Tech Week’s fourth year and we’ve seen it snowball. It will have over 50,000 visitors and business delegates from all over the world and is now established as an important date in the international digital and tech conference calendar.
What are you particularly looking forward to this year? The Hans Zimmer concert will be amazing! Plus, music tech is a growth area for London and we’re focussing on it in a big way this year. I’m also really looking forward to Drone Racing at Alexandra Palace — the first time we’ve had it in the UK. Then there are the sessions, of course, especially the LeadersIn Tech Summit which has some big hitters such as Ronan Harris MD of Google, Nicolas Cary President of Blockchain and TransferWise CEO Kristo Käärmann talking about London’s tech ecosystem.
What are the particular strengths of London’s tech sector? Follow us
How can London’s reputation as a global hub best be protected?
We’re particularly good at using technology to transform industries in which London is already an established global leader. For example, in financial services, Fintech is a strength. In the creative industries we’re very strong in ad tech, fashion tech and retail tech.
We need to make sure that we remain a welcoming, open and diverse city. We want the world’s best tech talent to come here, live here and build careers and companies here. Thankfully, when we speak to companies across Europe, the vast majority see London continuing to be the European technology capital, despite Brexit. So we’re confident — but definitely not complacent.
How can London best continue to grow as a global tech hub? You can’t be an island in the world of technology, so the more connected we are internationally, the stronger we’ll be. It’s why Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, recently announced a new business collaboration. After all, international talent and global networks are what makes London both a booming tech sector and a world-leading business capital.
What effect do you think Brexit will have on London’s tech scene? As the Mayor has said, we need to have a settlement as soon as possible to ensure that European workers who are already here can remain. They’re a vital part of our skilled workforce and the tech system — and also of our society, culture and what makes London special.
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Laura Citron Chief Executive of London & Partners
“Go along, get involved, ask questions, go to events and enjoy yourself”.
Away from Brexit, what are the main challenges for London’s tech sector? At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, it’s finding and retaining talent! Talent is what drives any global tech hub. London has more software developers than the whole metro area of San Francisco or New York City — or, in fact, any European city. So we do have a real concentration of tech talent here... but it’s not enough, and we need to invest to make sure we are deepening and broadening our pool of skills.
What are the main opportunities for London’s tech sector?
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Apart from Fintech and creative industries technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and big data are the fastest-growing areas in terms of venture capital, so we’d expect significant growth there. The real opportunities, though, will come from continuing to be outward-focussed, deeply international and completely inter-twined with the global tech ecosystem.
What attributes makes London’s tech sector a world leader? It’s the clusters we have across a whole diversity of industries. And we have everything here — culture, regulators and pools of capital, for example — all concentrated in a small and accessible geographical area.
What’s your message to everyone attending London Tech Week 2017? Thank you for coming — and get stuck in! Go along, get involved, ask questions, go to events and enjoy yourself. Because it’s the people who attend London Tech Week that will help make it a success — and a brilliant, exciting place to be.
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The Annual Analytics Summit 2017
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15 June 2017 - 9am to 5pm IET, Savoy Place, London, WC2R OBL Book online at www.analytics-events.co.uk Tel: + 44 (0)121 233 9300
COMMERCIAL FEATURE
A well connected launch pad for the future London’s new innovation destination to provide major boost to technology enterprise & global business. By Virginia Blackburn
O
n 12th June, Plexal; Europe’s largest and most connected innovation ecosystem, located at Here East on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will officially open. In conjunction with London Tech Week (12 – 16 June), Plexal will showcase its unique space & services designed to support connection, collaboration & innovation for technology entrepreneurs & corporations alike. “Plexal is a broad ecosystem within a location that is incredibly technically advanced, because of what it once was – the former Olympics press and broadcast centre, the most connected building in Europe,” says Claire Cockerton, Plexal’s founder and CEO. “We are designed as a mini-city, with a high street, maker’s studio, events space, cafes and communal kitchens, library, park & meeting square. Our wider location also provides social, cultural and leisure facilities as well as good transport links: we are a five minute walk from Hackney Wick station and there is a free shuttle bus from Stratford International.” Crossrail links will be completed in 2018 and the neighbouring borough has a great deal of affordable housing, which is not necessarily a given in many areas of London. It is the space itself, however, that
provides one of Plexal’s best selling points. Designed by award winning architects, Grimshaw, for entrepreneurs and corporate innovators to connect & collaborate, one of Plexal’s most impressive features includes a digital monument displaying state of the art live newsfeeds, community member information & a green living wall. The Plexal high street is the area to demonstrate new member technology, while other zones provide a wide choice of working spaces. “Plexal has been designed to accommodate the uniquely different requirements in the advancement of technology enterprise. From our active event space Centre Stage which leads out to our picturesque canalside social space to Legacy Place which is a quiet library area for coding,” says Claire. “we are able to support different types of working personalities within a unique infrastructure.” There will be capacity to house up to 800 people and even before Plexal actually opens, it is already 50% booked. There are a range of membership options, starting with a hot desk option at £225 a month for an individual entrepreneur. That will rise to over £400 for a premium private office. The units will be able to accommodate between 4 and 30 people.
Claire Cockerton Plexal CEO and founder
However, Plexal does not just offer a physical space in which to work but a host of other services too. Designed to support the start-up sector and to forge links between startups and corporates, Plexal has structured a host of professional services, covering such areas as legal advice, branding, public relations, finance and accountancy. “Our services include themed accelerators, bespoke innovation programmes, industry leading conferences, intra and entrepreneurial training, quality coaching and membership, in-house professional services and curated community events,” says Claire. “We
will offer entrepreneur education courses, and help people develop softer skills such as leadership, cultural development and managing public perceptions.” Everyone at Plexal is from an entrepreneurial background, from multiple disciplines, cultural backgrounds and industries, and the thinking behind the project is to provide the kind of services for entrepreneurs which are currently not widely on offer. It is also envisaged that these services will be helpful not only for start-ups but for companies coming to the UK for the first time. Nor are the services confined to start-ups. “We have a lot of innovative programmes for large corporations,” says Claire. “We can support large organisations with an innovative agenda, not least by putting them in touch with smaller companies. It works for both of them: on the one hand larger corporations can unlock opportunities for small business, while on the other hand, the latter can allow the larger organisations access to a whole new world of technology.” Plexal has already seen interest from companies working with censor-based technology, integrating into cars, homes and fashion, such as watches. “Our current member businesses & partner projects specialise
in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, cyber security and data analytics. We are actively cultivating piloting opportunities within the fields of sport, health, fashion, smart city and mobility issues with local partners on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,” says Claire. There are now plans to expand across London and internationally, although Brexit has now also become a factor in future planning. “We must prepare technology companies for a future in which the UK is outside the EU,” says Claire. “and we might have to provide a new range of services to expand to other countries.” The future for technology enterprise is looking bright. Plexal is powered by an international network of city partnerships, supporting organisations, start-up communities and trade and investment organisations across the world, making it a soft landing pad for companies new to the UK and providing international intelligence and opportunity for firms chasing global markets. To arrange a visit to Plexal & for further information: www.plexal.com visit@plexal.com @plexalcity
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INSPIRATION
COLUMN
12-16th June 2017
LTW fuels innovation and strengthens London as a global powerhouse.
L
ondon Tech Week is a festival of live events across the city, showcasing and celebrating the best of tech while providing networking, social, learning and business opportunities. As Tech Nation’s 2017 report highlighted, the turnover of digital tech businesses in the UK reached £170 billion, an increase of £30 billion in just five years, with the digital sector is creating jobs twice as fast as the non-digital. Investors and business leaders are attracted to London as it is home to some of the best visionary entrepreneurs in the world. London Tech Week 2017 is bigger and bolder than ever before, with over 200 events running across the city. This year we have our anchor event, TechXLR8, on 13th–15th June at London Excel, which brings together eight leading tech events, all under one roof. The LeadersIn Tech Summit, on 13th–14th June will be held at the newly opened Academy – A Google Space, and focuses on key issues affecting tech, from cybersecurity to tech talent.
Social Events at London Tech Week Alongside the many hundreds of events taking place across the city from all tech communities there is also a social programme of events from drone racing, Europas award dinners, The Prince’s Trust gala dinner and a concert at Wembley Arena featuring Hans Zimmer. This event acts as a launch pad for driving more talent, delivering networking & learning opportunities and for companies to showcase their talent and illustrate that talent diversity leads to better business. London Tech Week is supported by the Mayor of London and we are proud to welcome him as our special guest at our launch event on Monday 12th June at Here East. Zoe Osmond, Festival Director, London Tech Week
Read more on futureoftech.co.uk
Innovate at the Edge with Equinix® See how next generation architectures drive competitive advantage at the digital edge – transforming your ability to connect all your people, locations, clouds and data. Find out more at: Innovation through Interconnection – 13 June 2017, London
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Daily Event Highlights To find out the full schedule of events visit www.londontechweek.com or download the app by searching ‘London Tech Week’ in your app store
MONDAY 9.00-10.00 | LONDON & PARTNERS
Official Launch Event
Plexal Innovation Centre, Here East.
MONDAY-FRIDAY 17.30-19.00 | LONDON & PARTNERS AND
DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DIT)
Scaling Up in London and the UK – Networking Reception
19.00-23.00 | KNECT365 & THE PRINCE'S TRUST. SPONSORED BY: BRINK INSTITUTE
19.00-23.30 | THE FOODTALK SHOW
Prince's Trust Gala Dinner
OXO2, SE1 9PH
The FoodTalk Awards Dinner
8 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY
KNECT 365
London Tech Week Academy – supported by Google Academy – A Google Space
The London Living Room at London City Hall, SE1 2AA
TUESDAY 08.30-20.30 | THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
COUNCIL
Createch 2017: Creative Tech, Business & the Fourth Industrial Revolution
09.00-17.00 | EQUINIX INC
Innovation through interconnection 2017
Kings Place, N1 9AG
14.00-16.00 | UK INNOVATION HUB BY
INNOGY
Energy Revolution
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY-THURSDAY
08.45-16.15 | KNECT 365
9.00-18.00 | KNECT 365
Leaders In Tech Summit
TechXLR8 – A festival of connected innovation
Academy – A Google Space
ExCeL London, E16 1XL
ExCeL London, E16 1XL
Grange St. Paul's Hotel, EC4V 5AJ
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY
10.30-11.30 | MICROSOFT
11.15-12.45 | MEDIACOM
13.00-18.00 | TESCO LABS
18.00-21.30 | MARKS & CLERK LLP
8.00-21.00 | COCOON NETWORKS
Path to Mixed Reality – Examples in healthcare
If It Ain't Broke, It Soon Will Be
T-Jam
Big Tech Pub Quiz
2017 China-UK Hi! Technology Festival
The Telegraph, SW1W 0DT
Tesco – Lever Building, EC1R 5AR
O’Neill’s Wardour Street, W1D 6PU
Studio Spaces, E1W 2BB
Cocoon Networks, EC2A 2BS
THURSDAY 8.00-14.00 | MISHCON DE REYA LLP
8.30-10.30 | CENTRICA
8.45-16.45 | RSA SECURITY
16.00-18.00 | KINGSLEY NAPLEY
19.30 | KNECT 365
The Leap Tech Forum: Going for Growth – live Q&A with Sarah Wood, tech entrepreneur and founder of Unruly
Centrica: The Future of our Connected World Summit 2017
RSA Summit London 2017
Brexit proof your business
Festival Concert with Hans Zimmer
The Emirates Stadium, N7 7AJ
Kingsley Napley, EC1M 4AJ
Digital Catapult Centre, NW1 2RA
SSE Arena Wembley, HA9 0AA
Africa House, WC2B 6AH
FRIDAY 8.00-22.00 | BRINK INSTITUTE
New Frontiers: The Technology Driving Extreme Exploration 30 Pavilion, SW1X 0HJ
9.00-11.30 | TALENT.IO – KELLY MCCARTHY, MEGAN HOLLAND AND JOHN HAZELTON
"Think Different" Panel: Building an inclusive culture as a tech scale up
Google Campus, EC2A 4BX
13.00-14.00 | +REHABSTUDIO
FRI | KNECT 365
18-20 JUNE | GXP SUMMIT
How AI and Conversational interfaces will turn your Brand into a Service
Event Host Wrap Party
Global Expansion Summit / 18-20 June 2017
Kings Place, Kings Cross, N19AG
Intercontinental O2 London, SE10 0TW
Coin Laundry, EC1R 4QP
REGISTER NOW: eqix.it/LTW17
@EquinixUK | Equinix.co.uk
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PANEL OF EXPERTS
We ask some of the 2017 tech ambassadors their views on what makes our capital so unique and what the future holds for the tech sector.
Why London? To what would you attribute London’s rise as a global tech hub?
I Stephen Carter CEO, Informa
t’s the blend of different influences that has made London a global tech player. Take the effect of open markets and free trade, together with time zone and language – these have undeniably benefited many industries. For tech, not uniquely but in particular, talent has been key to making London a hub: the people who come to and through the city, their contributions and skills, and what they create and attract.
L Russ Shaw Founder, Tech London Advocates
ondon’s transformation into a global tech hub lies on the development of a robust tech ecosystem made up from strong components that work together to become more than the sum of their parts. Flexible working spaces that encourage collaboration, accelerator programmes built to reward innovation, an investor community willing to back potential as well as experience and support networks like Tech London Advocates have all contributed to London’s stratospheric rise.
L Cindy Rose CEO, Microsoft
ondon has long created an enviable environment where great ideas can find financial and cultural support. The UK was at the centre of the first industrial revolution. The country’s natural resources, geography and ingenuity was cultivated by a government that recognised opportunity. Now, as we enter the fourth industrial revolution, industry and government has an opportunity to reinvigorate London into a global centre of research and development centred on technology – specifically AI and machine learning.
L Nicola Mendelsohn VP, EMEA Facebook
ondon has always had a vibrant start-up scene. It is this ecosystem of entrepreneurialism, innovation and collaboration that has given rise to businesses that are transforming whole industries – like TransferWise, Deliveroo, Skype and Citymapper, to name just a few. I think this is down to a perfect storm of creativity, a range of industries taking innovative approaches, brilliant technical talent and a digitally savvy population. It’s for all these reasons that we decided to set up our first London office back in 2007.
How is our capital unique in offering an environment for growth and innovation?
What are you looking forward to most this London Tech Week?
Today, you have a physical environment where there’s a competitive and effective technology and communications infrastructure. There is financial capital for ideas, investment and growth, and all the business foundations that exist around it. And strong creative industries that have long existed and interact particularly closely with tech.
A true festival atmosphere over the course of the week. Combining people with a shared passion and interest, with ideas and inspiration, with business, with information and education, and with opportunities for fun, you create something potentially very exciting for London.
Last year, over 200,000 start-ups began life in London, reflecting a culture of innovation at a grassroots level and continuing to the top of government. This has been supported by a critical mass of investors, accelerators and incubators that underwrite growth, creating an atmosphere where each idea is given the opportunity to flourish.
London Tech Week is a unique opportunity to bring together all the constituent parts of the capital’s tech industry. It’s a chance for investors, advisors, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to come together in support of everything that makes London a great place to start and scale a tech business. With the eyes of the world on our city, the week is a chance to show the international community that London is open for business.
Most tech start-ups are born with global ambition. London has truly global appeal and attracts extraordinary talent from the UK and around the world. These people drive an upward spiral of creativity that constantly replenishes the well of innovation here.
In my role as ambassador for London Tech Week I’m most looking forward to hearing from those individuals and businesses who are working to solve real societal problems through digital transformation and deployment of AI. When it comes to technology, Londoners have always been inventive, creative and embraced new ideas; they are the UK’s early adopters and if any nation capital values the full potential of technology, it’s London.
For me, one of the greatest and most unique things about London is that it is a truly global and open city. Some of the world’s most talented computer scientists, developers and electronic engineers come to London to develop their careers. The Facebook office, for instance, has employees from over 60 different nationalities.
I love that this event is happening right here in the capital and that this year’s London Tech Week will be the biggest the city has ever seen. The week is really all about celebrating this great industry of ours, and the role London plays on the global stage. So I’m really excited about the opportunity to meet extraordinary people who are using technology to grow their business.
Read the answers at futureoftech.co.uk
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12 – 16 June 2017 #LTW
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