A new program will see tech start-ups from the UK expand their operations into Australia, helping generate jobs, ideas, and partnerships in Australia’s technology sector. Part of the Digital Trade Network, a UK Government initiative to help innovative tech companies access trade and investment opportunities in regions such as the Asia Pacific region, 11 small businesses make up the initial cohort of UK companies coming to Australia.
The initiative, led by UK tech scale up experts Tech Nation, comes on the back of the UK and Australia recently concluding the fourth round of negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. The agreement will include provisions to reduce barriers to digital trade, and help connect businesses and consumers. At the same time, the UK has made efforts to deepen its partnerships in the Asia Pacific region through its application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Australia is a key member.
The 11 companies that are participating in the program are:
- Cyan Forensics
- Maxatta
- Péarlaí Ltd
- ISMS.online
- Buddi
- nPlan
- Giki
- LandTech
- Hadean
- DragonFly AI
- SoPost.
“Australia is an extremely important partner for the UK tech sector and a country that shares our success in this field,” Gerard Grech, CEO of Tech Nation, said. “We can’t wait to see the success that our International Growth Programme in Australia, as part of the Digital Trade Network, brings to both countries.
“These 11 digital tech companies have been selected from Tech Nation’s network of 800 UK tech scale-ups who have been through our growth programmes over the past seven years,” Grech added. “The International Growth Programme in Australia is just a first step in this exciting market as we help more UK digital tech companies identify opportunities to enter and grow.”
Michael Ward, Deputy Trade Commissioner for Australia & New Zealand at the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) said that The Digital Trade Network will increase digital trade and investment opportunities, connecting UK tech leaders, founders, and innovators with Australian buyers and investors.
“This will unlock new partnerships and collaboration in areas including fintech, cyber and cleantech,” Ward said. “This comes at a time when the UK is strengthening its partnership with Australia and when an international approach to digital innovation will help us all build back better from COVID-19. The International Growth Programme is an exciting new initiative which the Department for International Trade is pleased to support.”
Tech Nation’s International Growth Programme is also concurrently launched in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. As part of the programme, there will be a series of webinars, bootcamps, and interactive workshops over the next few months to support UK tech scale-ups looking to grow their businesses into Australia and more globally.
