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A blossoming relationship between tech pioneers in Cambridge UK and Silicon Valley is being leveraged by David Cameron to generate economic growth based on innovation. Downing Street is backing the Silicon Valley Comes to the UK (SVC2UK) programme this autumn, steered by co-chairs Sherry Coutu in Cambridge and Reid Hoffman in San Francisco. It builds on their highly successful Silicon Valley Comes2Cambridge initiative - which this year the CSaP is delighted to be part of - and takes in the other hotspots in Britain’s Golden Triangle – London and Oxford.
David Cameron said, "Silicon Valley Comes to the UK is one of the most important inward investment events of the year, bringing leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors together with British technology companies to spark new connections and investments."
"As I've said before, I am committed to making the UK the best place in the world to start, run and grow a high tech company. That's why we have introduced more generous tax breaks for early stage investment, accepted the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property, launched the Entrepreneur Visa, as well as a host of other policy changes."
"A key part of this technology agenda is our commitment to open data. Over the past 18 months we have set a huge amount of government data free, and we are committed to going even further in the months ahead."
"I warmly welcome the news that Silicon Valley Comes to the UK is organising a competition to reward the creative use of government data. This type of innovation can produce new applications and services that generate significant social and economic benefits, and I'm looking forward to seeing the entries sent in by coders across the UK."
Sherry Coutu, the co-chair of SVc2UK, says "The intention of SVc2UK is to inspire students and alumni to consider starting or joining an entrepreneurial business at some point after graduation and to foster relationships between the leading entrepreneurs, angels and investors and scientists from around the world". To view the full press release, please see here.
The Silicon Valley Comes to the UK programme will take place in London on 16 and 17 November, and in Cambridge on 17 and 18 November 2011. For more information, please see here.
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