With over 25 years of experience bridging technology, public service, and politics, House of Lords member Kulveer Ranger is a thought leader at the forefront of London’s digital transformation. As the former directorof Digital London for the mayor of London and chair of the mayor’s digital advisory board, he played a crucial role in the development of Tech City, transforming East London’s Silicon Roundabout into a global innovation hub.
“A beautiful developing ecosystem of creativity, innovation, and startups was happening in a place that got christened the Silicon Roundabout,” Lord Ranger recalls, reflecting on Tech City’s early days. His involvement in myriad projects like the London Oystercard provided him with unique insights into nurturing innovation ecosystems.
Drawing from his experiences in both the public and private sectors, including his role as a senior executive at Atos and his service on boards like Transport for London and techUK, Ranger shares valuable lessons for cities worldwide aiming to foster their tech hubs. His recounting of Tech City’s evolution offers a blueprint for balancing innovation with governance and attracting global talent and investment.
The Birth of a Tech Ecosystem
Tech City’s story began around 2009-10 when a cluster of creative and tech startups started to form in the Old Street area of East London. Kulveer Ranger, director of Digital London during this period, recalls the excitement of those early days:
“I have to say, the government at that time, led by the prime minister, David Cameron, were very keen on this as well, so we could work with them, but it was really to just support the entrepreneurs, to give them some space, to maybe convene, but start a process which led to them becoming a presence, not just nationally, but the awareness globally of what was happening, which drew in talent, which led effectively to major businesses indirectly deciding they were going to locate in London.”
One of the critical lessons from Tech City’s success was the importance of allowing the ecosystem to develop organically.
“The worst thing that can happen is politicians or officials can come in and go, ‘We’re from City Hall, and we’re here to help,’ and start putting regulation and policies in place,” he says. “What we needed to do was highlight the opportunity.”
This approach of light-touch governance allowed startups and entrepreneurs to innovate freely without the constraints of excessive regulation or bureaucracy.
The success of Tech City wasn’t just about local growth. It was about putting London on the global tech map. Kulveer Ranger notes: “Getting huge global organisations to invest massively, like Google and Facebook, into London happened because we were slightly ahead.”
The Race for Innovation
The development of Tech City captured the international limelight, fostering a friendly rivalry with other global tech hubs, particularly New York. Lord Kulveer Ranger recalls: “It was a race between us and New York, with the then Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s team, and that was quite good fun. We were leading from both a global and European perspective.”
This competition helped drive innovation and growth, benefiting London and the global tech ecosystem.
While Tech City put London on the map, it also sparked a broader movement across the U.K. Kulveer Ranger acknowledges: “We were a bit London-centric … I had to go and speak in different parts of the U.K. and apologise. Because, for example, I now sit on the board of Tech West Midlands, in the centre of the U.K., and they’ve got massive ecosystem startups in academia and industry coming together.”
This spread of tech hubs across the country has created a more diverse and resilient tech ecosystem in the U.K.
Lessons for Future Innovation Hubs
The success of Tech City offers several critical lessons for other cities looking to build their innovation hubs.
— Allow organic growth: Avoid overregulation and let the ecosystem develop naturally.
— Provide support, not control: Governments should focus on supporting entrepreneurs rather than trying to control the ecosystem.
— Think globally: Create awareness on a global scale to attract talent and investment.
— Embrace competition: Friendly rivalry with other tech hubs can drive innovation.
— Spread the wealth: Encourage the development of tech ecosystems beyond just one city centre.
As cities worldwide look to nurture their tech ecosystems, the story of London’s Tech City and Kulveer Ranger’s hand in its development provides a valuable road map. By creating an environment where innovation can thrive, cities can position themselves at the forefront of the global tech revolution.
