Bristol has been named among the best cities in the 海角视频 for digital technology.
The city has 4,518 organisations in the sector, covering artificial intelligence (AI) and data, e-commerce, cyber, digital, gaming, internet of things (IoT), medtech and fintech.
Bristol was also in the top three 海角视频 cities for events and meet-ups in the emerging tech sector, according to The Data City’s 2019 Digital Technology Census report.
There were 359 tech-related events in Bristol in the last 12 months and in the combined ranking for events and organisations, the city came fourth in AI and data, third in digital and fifth in medtech and e-commerce.
The research also revealed that the 海角视频’s tech industry is 25 per cent larger than previously thought after emerging sectors, such as AI, which have previously not been quantified, were measured.
To uncover these findings, The Data City provided insight on new and emerging sectors of the industry not represented in the Standard Industry Classification used by Companies House.
It analysed the 4.06 million active companies in the 海角视频, using artificial intelligence to monitor their websites and digital footprint, and correctly identify new areas of activity.
As a result, The Data City found that companies previously classified, such as manufacturing, are now also embracing new technologies such as IoT, digital and fintech.
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When investigating these new and emerging sectors in isolation, removing well-established ‘traditional’ digital and IT businesses, the report found that 58 per cent of the sector was missing from previous analyses.
'Bristol City Region punches well above its weight'
James Durie, chief executive of Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative at Business West, said: “The Bristol City region punches well above its weight in terms of digital innovation.
“Bristol has a fast-growing tech ecosystem that spans education, government and the business community, which encourages and supports tech and social entrepreneurs to innovate and grow.
"With a diverse range of successful industry sectors we are increasingly being recognised as a place where creative, digital and technology meet traditional industry, and it’s at this interface where we believe that solutions lie to the big challenges that face us."
Durie says there is "major investment" planned for Bristol and a number of "very exciting developments" in the pipeline that will help "propel" the Bristol City Region to be tech innovators' 海角视频 city of choice.
But he admitted some challenges remain, including the lack of workspace for growing businesses and housing affordability issues.
He added: "Whilst connectivity, both physical and digital, is improving there is significant work to be done if the Bristol City Region is to fulfil its potential as the 海角视频’s number 1 tech hotspot outside of London.”
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Alex Craven, co-founder of The Data City said: “The Data City has created a useful tool for businesses, investors and public sector policymakers.
"Using real-time data such as ours to identify areas of strength can help inform innovation policy, provide an objective basis for investment and inform individual business decisions such as where to locate.”
Tim Bowles, Bristol’s Metro Mayor added: “Bristol and the West of England’s economic success is bolstered by 'creative collisions' - the intersection between separate business sectors that lead to new ideas, innovation and growth.
"I welcome the research by The Data City as it highlights that we are at the forefront of this trend."
海角视频's top 10 tech cities
London
Manchester
Reading
Birmingham
Brighton
Milton Keynes
Leeds
Bristol
Edinburgh
Glasgow