UK Business Information / Information & Communication Technologies
The UK's ICT industry is the largest in Europe. ICT accounts for 15% of the UK's commercial R&D, much of which is major investment by overseas firms. 38% of all spin-out firms from UK universities are involved in the ICT sector demonstrating that this really is an industry for the future.
South West
Home to the largest microelectronics industry in Europe, more silicon designers work in the South West than anywhere else in the world, excluding Silicon Valley in the US. There are 50% more silicon designers in this region than the second largest cluster in Cambridge.
The South West has particularly expertise in wireless communication technologies, photonics, software, information storage and security. More than £250 million has been raised in venture capital by the region's ICT industry in the last 5 years.
Global companies like ST Microelectronics, Motorola and Toshiba are all involved in cutting edge R&D in the South West. Links between business and local universities are strong. Toshiba Telecommunications Research Laboratory has an ongoing R&D relationship with Bristol University's Centre for Communications Research, participating in many international seminars, missions and events held in the region.
And universities are collaborating with each other, too. Bristol, Bath, Southampton and Surrey Universities have formed SETsquared, an organisation focused on setting-up business incubators for ICT spin-outs in the South West region. SETsquared aims to build on the ICT success enjoyed by the region, tap into the digital talent at these universities and create the next generation of ICT entrepreneurs.
East of England
Just as it has done for bioscience, Cambridge has become an international leader for computer science and technology, profiting off the talent of its students and, more importantly, helping to profit themselves.
300 ICT companies and commercial laboratories are based in the area, as well as the university's own, globally respected computer science department. The fact that the department has been responsible for the creation of 120 of the companies in the area shows how important Cambridge University is to the region. Among its offspring, Autonomy, one of Europe's leading software houses.
Like other successful ICT regions in the UK, Cambridge University has forged links with multinational companies operating in the area. Recent projects have seen the Cambridge University Computer Science department working with IBM, BT and Boeing.
North East
Teeside University may not be as well known internationally as the likes of Cambridge, but it is capitalising on the digital expertise of its students. Through its Digital City program the university has helped create a fast-growing ICT sector in a region once better known for manufacturing.
The scheme, run in conjunction with Middlesborough Council, helps graduates to turn their business ideas into a reality. 90 young ICT companies have been created so far, earning Teeside University the Times Higher Education Supplement's ‘Best University’ and ‘Outstanding Business Engagement’ awards, in recognition of its work.
A Digital City Boho Zone has been created in Middlesborough, with state of the art equipment, so that the Teeside University spin-offs can cluster, collaborate and grow.
