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Partnership Opportunity Delegation to UK Encourages Emerging Technology Partnerships [1]

['Ann Marie Warmenhoven-Tilias']

Date: 2024-07

Stimulating partnerships and fostering innovation are key elements of the United States’ International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy, launched by Secretary Blinken last month. In our ever-changing tech landscape, the private sector in the United States and abroad is an essential partner in building a vibrant, open, and secure technological future. The U.S. Department of State recently led a “Deep Tech Inclusion” Partnership Opportunity Delegation (POD) to London, United Kingdom to foster business-government and business-business partnerships between emerging technology companies, investors, and research institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom with an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and synthetic biology. PODs are a Department of State Office of Global Partnerships initiative to foster deeper collaboration and cooperation between the United States, countries of strategic importance, and the private sector.

Led by Special Representative (S/R) for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe and Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State (STAS) Dr. Patricia Gruber, with strong support from Embassy London and Ambassador Jane D. Hartley, this POD identified more than 30 potential partnership opportunities to strengthen U.S.-UK cooperation in AI, quantum technology, and synthetic biology.

Deep Tech Inclusion

Eleven U.S. tech company founders and leaders, academics, and investors accompanied S/R McAuliffe and STAS Gruber on this May 20-23 POD to create partnerships that enlist a more diverse, inclusive set of stakeholders to advance U.S. leadership on emerging technology. U.S. Embassy London and stakeholders from the UK government, investment community, and tech ecosystem created a four-day program in London to introduce the delegation to prospective UK partners in AI, quantum technology, and synthetic biology, including women-led companies and diverse founders of underrepresented backgrounds. Last fall’s successful digital inclusion POD to São Paolo, Brazil inspired this London POD.

POD’s Dynamic Agenda Connected Delegation to Leaders, Counterparts

A dynamic agenda of meetings and events explored the POD delegation’s theme of “Deep Tech Inclusion,” looking at diversity and inclusion challenges to growing technology companies and partnerships. Timed to coincide with the two-day U.S.-UK bilateral Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (JCM), the POD participants had a unique opportunity to meet high-level UK officials to discuss U.S.-UK science and technology priorities in AI, quantum technology and synthetic biology and explore opportunities to increase shared U.S.-UK leadership in these technologies. Other engagements throughout the week explored differences between the U.S. and UK technology startup and venture investment landscapes and the challenges and opportunities facing emerging technology innovators and investors in the UK. Executives and market analysts from UK technology industry association Tech UK briefed the delegation on UK tech policy, research, and development (R&D) trends and convened thematic roundtables. Imperial College London, the UK’s top-ranked research university, hosted a networking reception for the delegation with 70 Imperial research leaders, tech company executives, and startup founders. POD delegates met with subject matter experts from the Government of the United Kingdom, including the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and government-backed quantum research institutes. Embassy London organized a roundtable with seven startup founders from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to consider the challenges diverse entrepreneurs face in building a business and the contributions diversity and inclusion make to startup success. Delegation members had time to have one-on-one and small group meetings with UK companies and other prospective partners to discuss specific opportunities.

U.S.-UK Shared Priorities Underpin Partnership Opportunities

The strength of the U.S.-UK alliance and our shared priorities create a unique enabling environment for public and private cooperation. Last year’s Atlantic Declaration for a Twenty-First Century U.S.-UK Economic Partnership specifically calls for joint efforts and collaborative R&D in a range of critical and emerging technologies. This “Deep Tech Inclusion” POD to London was an opportunity to build on U.S.-UK cooperation to shape the policy environment around technology and enable further responsible innovation. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the POD were palpable, participants enjoyed exciting conversations about the endless possibilities to work together. Ideas included a first movers coalition to support venture capitalists in the UK and the U.S., educational exchanges between Imperial College London, Duke University, and North Carolina State University, and a potential new London-based office for a U.S.-based firm were just a few of the inspiring opportunities that were discussed.

At the conclusion of the POD, participants identified more than 30 potential partnership opportunities, including U.S. investments in UK technology companies, UK investments in U.S. companies, the establishment and expansion of U.S. technology company operations in the UK, collaborative research and development, co-investment opportunities, revenue opportunities, procurement deals, and exchange opportunities and programs. Furthermore, as the United States continues to pursue “ and institutionalize our vision of “tech for good,” the U.S. Department of State will pursue public-private partnerships and collaborations in emerging technology that engage a diverse, inclusive set of stakeholders.

Learn More About PODs

Partnership Opportunity Delegations (PODs) engage the U.S. private, public, civil, non-profit, and academic sectors in exploring potential partnerships and substantive cooperation between the United States and priority countries around the world. Through highly curated, multi-day agendas of bilateral meetings, roundtables, and private networking events, POD and host-country participants share expertise and explore areas for meaningful collaboration. To learn more about upcoming PODs and express interest in joining, visit the Opportunities tab of State’s Office of Global Partnerships website or follow “GPatState” on LinkedIn.

About the Author: Ann Marie is the Public Diplomacy Officer and Communications Lead for the Office of Global Partnerships where she previously served as Partnerships Advisor (2021-2023). Her prior tours include Economic Unit Chief in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2018-2021), Consular Officer in Toronto (2015-2017), and Economic/Commercial Officer in N’Djamena, Chad (2013-2015).

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