LEP looks to attract more tech inward investors to region

Sir Roger Marsh OBE DL

The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a campaign to attract sponsors for its most significant presence to date at international tech conference, Smart City Expo World Congress 2019, held in Barcelona.

The primary aim of attending the annual expo, which is attended by 20,000 delegates from over 700 countries, is to attract new inward investors to the region. The offer to international delegates will include the opportunity to test new smart tech solutions in the region and collaborate with the public sector on new solutions.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and NP11, said:“Our region is experiencing a period of growth driven by tech innovation. We want this growth to benefit everyone who lives in our region and to transform lives with technology whether that is in Healthtech, Edtech, Fintech or more. That is why the LEP has developed a digital framework that sets out how digital technologies and data can play a key role in addressing or region’s biggest challenges.

“And it is those challenges that the Smart City World Expo explores at a global level. The best way to achieve our ambition is to work in partnership and that is why we want to work with like-minded organisations to join our 2019 delegation.”

The region’s credentials as a place committed to ‘Transforming lives with tech’ will be showcased building on the region’s presence at London Tech Week in June and the Leeds City Region Digital Framework Consultation of 2018 .

Cllr James Lewis, Leeds City Council deputy leader and executive member for Resources, added: “Leeds is a digital city. We have plenty to shout about when it comes to the ‘Smart City’ agenda with many success stories to tell. We have a fast growing digital economy which contributes £1.3bn of GVA; the highest number of data scientists outside London; fantastic universities delivering world leading research across transport, fashion and health; a digital inclusion programme that sees the city leading the way and making lives better for its residents through smart city technology.”

Close