UK support to tech firms ‘an embarrassment’

UK support to tech firms ‘an embarrassment’

ary Shapiro says he does not understand why UK ministers are not doing more to help start-ups at CES

 

The UK government’s lack of support for start-ups attending the CES tech show is a “source of embarrassment”, according to the event’s organiser.
Gary Shapiro compared the country unfavourably with France, the Netherlands and Israel. The head of one British firm at the Las Vegas event said the criticism was well-founded. But the UK’s Department for International Trade said it was providing “targeted support”.
CES is one of the tech calendar’s biggest fixtures and provides companies with a chance to meet and secure orders from retailers, as well as to gain publicity by showing their products to journalists and analysts.
More than 3,800 companies are exhibiting at CES this year
About 177,000 people are expected to take part in this year’s show, which runs until Sunday.

‘Short-sighted’

There are nearly five times as many French companies attending this year’s CES as British ones. Mr Shapiro said there had been an annual increase in numbers over the past few years thanks to Paris making greater effort to help its entrepreneurs.

Bespoke help

CES charges a discounted rate for stands in its Eureka Park start-up zone.
At this year’s show, there are French, Ukrainian, Czech, Saudi Arabian, Dutch, Israeli, New Zealand and US stands organised by government-backed agencies to promote local talent. But a spokeswoman for the UK’s Department for International Trade said it thought it was more effective for UK attendees to base themselves elsewhere in product-themed areas.
Matt Hancock will spend part of a day at the tech trade show
The UK continues to be a world-leader in the tech and innovation industry, and events like CES can provide UK businesses with vital contacts to build their brand abroad
It is clear the majority of CES want to help UK businesses make the most of trade and investment opportunities including in the US, through targeted support and bespoke business matching that better maximises their presence to win vital contracts abroad. Matt Hancock will meet British exhibitors when he stops in for half a day before travelling on to meet music industry leaders in California.

Travel costs

But at least one UK start-up is dissatisfied.
The Fridgecam warns owners when food in their fridge needs to be replaced
Smarter Applications is launching a fridge webcam at CES that alerts owners to when food nears its expiry date.
By contrast, Bluemint Labs – a Grenoble-based start-up – praised the French government for the support it was receiving. Media captionBluemint Labs will be promoting a sensor that lets smartphones be controlled with a wave of the hand. The government provides the label La French Tech, which helps with branding. This label helps get more exposure and adoption among the big retailers in France.
The regional governments also play their part.
For the region Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, the body Minalogic is supporting select start-ups by paying back some part of the travel and accommodation costs. It is also helping set up meetings with major brands, which otherwise would have been very tough.

More than money

Ms Lane said Smarter Applications was spending about £40,000 on CES, and that budget covered a private meeting room but not a show floor stand.
Isabella Lane says other European countries do more to support their start-ups
She acknowledged that there were grants available to the UK tech sector but added that they were difficult to qualify for. But Mr Shapiro stressed he was not calling on the UK to subsidise its young companies’ CES appearances. He went on to say that Government support is just not funding. It’s political leadership. It’s showing up. It’s a matter of [attracting] attention. There’s a great opportunity for the UK, which is untapped.

Country Companies attending CES

US 1,745
China 1,314
France 248
Taiwan 171
South Korea 144
Canada 71
UK 55
Germany 39
Israel 37
Netherlands 21
Czech Republic 10
Ukraine 6
There’s no doubt there are British firms represented at CES.
A young British solo entrepreneur had flown to the US with his own funds to promote what sounds like a very clever wireless earpods product. But what seems lacking this year is much help from the British government for start-ups wanting to make the trip. In previous years there had at least been a UK Trade & Investment stand.
Looking at the floor plans for the show it is clear that their are representatives from Israel, the Czech Republic and every corner of France – but it looks as though the Union Flag will not be flying.
You can guarantee however that British electronics retailers will be at the show in force, on the lookout for the hot products of 2017 – but they may have to look long and hard for anything home-grown.