Bristol region identified as leading development base for Middle East

A delegation from Bristol and Bath were present as the UK Jordan Tech Hub was launched in Amman, Jordan.

It has been launched to help drive economic growth through a technology and innovation partnership between the two countries.

It was unveiled at a reception hosted by King Abdullah of Jordan.

The multi-centre hub will be supported by both public and private sector bodies from all four areas, which will all work in collaboration with UKTI in Jordan.

The UK Jordan Tech Hub will help drive economic growth in both countries by helping British start-ups and SMEs partner with the best of Jordanian and wider Arab based innovation.

Jordan has more internet start-up companies than any other country in the Middle East and has been dubbed the Middle East’s Silicon Valley.

One of the hub centres, the Bristol and Bath region, has been specifically identified as a leading development base in the UK for creativity and innovation, with particular strengths in film, animation, microelectronics and advanced engineering.

Prof Joe McGeehan, Chair of Invest Bristol & Bath comments: “Bristol and Bath are widely recognised as one of the UK’s hotspots of creativity and innovation which is why this Tech Hub provides such an exciting opportunity for the region’s companies to partner with Jordan’s fast-growing technology sector.”

The UK Jordan Tech Hub will focus its activities in sectors where the UK and Jordan have complementary strengths, including digital, biomed, low carbon, ICT and finance. .