Scottish Government unveils plan to help tech businesses thrive overseas

The Scottish Government has unveiled an action plan designed to help businesses operating in the technology space access new international markets.

Produced in partnership with organisations working in the sector, An Export Plan for Scotland’s Technology Sector has four main aims: to create a framework via which industry, the public sector and the Scottish Government can collaborate; to identify and maximise export opportunities; to capitalise on Scotland's technology export strengths; and to make a significant contribution to the government’s wider export growth plans.

Trade minister Ivan McKee said the technology-specific strategy would be “critical to delivering our economic ambitions to grow exports to a quarter of GDP by 2029”.

“An Export Plan for Scotland’s Technology Sector sets out how we can work in partnership with the industry to identify new markets and opportunities, helping to grow the technology we export around the world,” he said.

“Our ambitious strategy to transform Scotland’s economy prioritises investment in entrepreneurialism and development of new markets, and this plan will help to ensure securing new trade and investment opportunities are front and centre of our economic growth.

“The Scottish Government, our enterprise agencies and the wider public sector will work together to support the technology industry to capitalise on our export potential.”

In the plan, the government noted that as of last year there were close to 10,400 VAT or PAYE- registered technology businesses operating in Scotland, accounting for just under six per cent of all registered companies.

It said those companies are “integral” to Scotland’s economic success and that helping them to access other markets would “not only match our competitors, but in many cases lead in international markets”.

“In recent years, the pandemic has demonstrated a transformative shift, globally, in the way sectors have evolved to support the new environment we are experiencing,” the report states.

“As a result, we are experiencing an unprecedented demand for products and solutions across the technology sector globally which is creating exciting opportunities for Scotland.”

To help businesses take advantage of these opportunities, economic development agency Scottish Enterprise and inward investment organisation Scottish Development International will review the support they offer technology companies while a new Technology Exports Delivery Group will also be established.