Britain to showcase its ‘excellence in technology’ at Istanbul Conference

Britain will be presenting its technology credentials to Turkish business at a one-day event in Istanbul on Monday, 17 February. The Department for International Trade (DIT) is hosting the UK Technology Conference 2020, which aims to bring together “thought-leaders from business, university, research centre and government” through exclusive keynote briefings, panel discussions and workshops covering different sectors: “Fintech, Agritech, Digital Manufacturing, Science and Innovation, Open Data and Smart City.” It will also arm Turkish firms doing business in Britain with “insightful tips” in the Brexit era. A host of highly respected technology professionals from the DIT and industry will be attending. Speakers include:

• Michael Booth, Head of International Development Partnerships, UK Research and Innovation
• Jane Grady, Deputy Trade Commissioner, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Department for International Trade
• Priya Guha, Board Member, Innovate UK
• Mike Maddock, Managing Director, Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd.
• Nathan Pierce, Head of Smart London Team, Greater London Authority
• Renate Samson, Senior Policy Advisor, Open Data Institute
• Tony Young (TBC), National Clinical Director, Innovation NHS England
• Keiran Whitaker, CEO, Entocycle
• Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation

The one-day conference will also see the finale of the GREAT Entrepreneur Games Awards 2019, celebrating some of Turkey’s best and brightest talent in technology start-ups. Trade between Turkey and Britain has been steadily growing this past decade. In 2018, the value of trade between the two countries was worth $18.5 billion – making Britain Turkey’s second biggest trade partner after Germany. Turkey is Britain’s 18^thlargest trade partner. Turkish imports to the UK for the year totalled $11.1 billion, with British goods and services worth $7.4 billion going in the other direction. According to the DIT, the top three goods Britain exported to Turkey in 2018 were stones and minerals, machinery, and iron and steel.   Main image © iStock / Paul Calbar, 2013