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World's Top Technology Hotspots Unveiled
Biggest contributors to technology recognised by panel of industry experts
- Silicon Valley named most influential Technology Hotspot in the World
- Cities in India and China dominate Top 20 list
- Major economies such as France, Germany and Italy fail to make the grade
London, XX June 2008: Silicon Valley, Bangalore and London have been unveiled as the world's most influential and innovative technology locations by a panel of industry experts assembled by silicon.com.
silicon.com's Tech Hotspots project recognises the locations around the globe that are making the biggest contribution to the technology landscape, both today and into the future.
Silicon Valley was named as the world's most influential Tech Hotspot, with judges citing its long heritage in technology innovation and continued influence as key factors. The area's continued role as a hub for companies to secure the funding they need to get their ideas off the ground was also a key factor.
The poll also highlights the significant contribution from India and China to technology, with cities from both countries accounting for almost half of those in the Top 20. In particular, Bangalore, recognised as the second most influential Tech Hotspot, was cited as being at the heart of India's technology boom, and the offshore outsourcing destination all others must measure up to.
Shanghai was considered to have the edge over many rivals in terms of the manufacture of technology, boasting a rapid turnaround from concept to product and an array of universities that means that the city is coming up fast on India.
Europe was significantly under-represented in the poll, with only London, Cambridge and Helsinki making the cut.
London, which features at number three in the poll, was praised for its status as a world banking and media capital, boosted by the smart use of technology by businesses based there. The expert panel labelled Cambridge as the high tech hub of the UK, citing the close links between the world-leading Cambridge University and the biggest names in technology which can be found at the science parks within the area. But notable European absences from the Top 20 included Germany, France and Italy.
The Top 20 Technology Hotspots as voted for by the panel of judges are:
- Silicon Valley, United States
- Bangalore, India
- London, United Kingdom
- Tokyo, Japan
- Boston, United States
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Shanghai, China
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Seoul, South Korea
- Beijing, China
- Chennai, India
- Pune, India
- Singapore, Singapore
- Helsinki, Finland
- Moscow, Russia
- Hong Kong, China
- Hyderabad, India
- New York, United States
- Sydney, Australia
- Shenzen, China
To make it onto the silicon.com list of the world's top 20 Tech Hotspots, a town or city needed to be of worldwide importance in terms of innovation, development, use or manufacture of enterprise technology. The judging panel weighed a number of factors in choosing and ranking hotspots, with particular emphasis given to those cities that are demonstrating the fastest growth on the global stage.
"It is perhaps unsurprising that Silicon Valley was named the world's most influential Tech Hotspot as this is where it all started and the area continues to set the technology agenda to this day," says Steve Ranger, Editor, silicon.com. "But it is the sheer volume of cities from India and China within the Top 20 that sends a clear message to the technology industry as to how the areas of influence are shifting. With the vast pools of up-and-coming talent that both countries command, these two economic powerhouses have the ability to alter the technology landscape over the coming years and mould it in their own image. Silicon Valley will have to keep innovating at a phenomenal rate if it is to maintain the title of Top Technology Hotspot."
The full results and special report are available at: www.silicon.com/techhotspots
Notes to Editors
When ranking Tech Hotspots, judges kept the following criteria in mind:
Tech innovation: is the location renowned for its creativity and entrepreneurship? This could include the number of start-ups, research labs and universities concentrated in the area. Perhaps a town or city has developed renown for its expertise in particular areas of high tech, such as wireless or security. This might also include inward investment: does the location have a consistent or mushrooming reputation for attracting finance and investors?
Technological development and delivery: is the hotspot well known for delivering the development means for the nuts and bolts of technology - for example, it may offer a vast number of software engineers skilled in a particular area, which may be distinct from innovation. This could also include the offshore provision of services to organisations around the world.
Technology manufacture: is the town or city a centre for technology manufacture - featuring installations such as factories, plants and testing facilities?
Technology use: does the wider population of the town or city have access to exceptional tech facilities, such as free wi-fi or cutting-edge government services?
For more information contact:
Natalie Godsell / James Ellerington, Brands2Life
020 7592 1200
natalie.godsell@brands2life.com / james.Ellerington@Brands2Life.com
Helen Cooke, CNET Networks UK
020 7021 1100
Helen.Cooke@cnet.com
About silicon.com
silicon.com is the leading UK online publication for senior IT and business decision-makers seeking to assess and understand how technology will drive their business forward. Delivering comprehensive daily news, expert analysis and commentary, whitepapers, case studies and special reports, silicon.com provides broad context and strategic insight into the key issues influencing how businesses use technology today.
About CNET Networks UK
CNET Networks UK (www.cnetnetworks.co.uk) is a part of CNET Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: CNET), an interactive media company that builds brands for people and the things they are passionate about, such as gaming, music, entertainment, technology, business, food, and parenting. Founded in 1992, CNET Networks has a strong presence in the US, Asia, and Europe.
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