"London Economy Needs to Discover other Great Areas of Expansion": Boris Backs Tech at The InnoTech Summit

LONDON, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Boris Johnson is set to throw himself into the (relatively) deep end of technology at the InnoTech Summit this April in a bid to promote London's growing tech economy. The Mayor of London, who stated at last year's event that tech startups are "exactly the kind of entrepreneurship that I think will lead London, lead this country, out of recession", will host his first ever Google Hangout with top tech executives in Silicon Valley live at the summit. And he's not the only policy maker due to demonstrate support for the sector - Rohan Silva, Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Edmund Truell, Pension Fund Manager, will also deliver exclusive keynotes.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130327/606553 )

The InnoTech Summit aims to 'connect the dots' between entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers to help grow tech startups in the UK. The current disconnects between government, businesses and the financial sector - which have historically lead to many startups snubbing the UK for more favourable investment conditions abroad, typically Silicon Valley - will be discussed on the event's policy panel with Marcus Stuttard of the London Stock Exchange, Simon Clark of Fidelity Partners and David White, Founder of Import.io.

"The internet economy represents more than 8% of UK GDP, but many are only just waking up to the enormity of this statistic," said Jennifer Arcuri, Founder of the InnoTech Summit. "By increasing communication between these parties we can change the investment environment in London and make the UK tech scene the world-leading IPO market it should be. What better way to reinvent an economy than by fostering growth in this area?"

Complementing the event's policy line-up is an 'extreme data' panel, plus a showcase of 'game changing' tech startups all with the potential to grow in the London tech market. This includes bird strikes technology firm, Volacom, and augmented retail company, Holition.

"Our game-changers scratch the surface of what London has to offer, and the UK has only just begun to get serious about its tech economy. The potential for investment in tech startups is immense, and this event is only going to whet the appetite for tech investment in the UK," explained Ms. Arcuri.

The InnoTech Summit takes place on the 26^th April 2013 at Level39, Canary Wharf. http://www.innotechsummit.com.

Quote source: Boris Johnson at 2012 InnoTech Summit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahx5zhc5VUY

SOURCE The InnoTech Summit