India, Vietnam and Korea predicted to be highest-growth markets for UK tech in 2026
Consultancy Intralink urges innovators to act now to steal march on competitors
India, Vietnam and South Korea will be the most dynamic global growth markets for UK tech companies in 2026, according to a British business development specialist.
Jonathan Cleave, Group Managing Director at international business development consultancy Intralink, says he expects significant commercial openings for UK firms across Asia next year and highlights India, Vietnam and Korea as the most promising markets.
He says that UK tech has only “realised a fraction of the potential” of these markets so far and risks “losing ground to fast-moving rivals” unless companies accelerate their expansion strategies.
Based in Seoul, Cleave and his team at Intralink have helped thousands of western tech companies to expand in Asia’s major markets over the last 35 years, and supported 203 UK firms with their export plans in 2024 alone.
He predicts that India will offer huge rewards in 2026, given the country’s sheer scale, increasing R&D investment and its pro-business government. The country’s $4 trillion economy is projected to multiply eightfold by 2047. And, as it produces a third of the entire world’s STEM graduates, has more than 900 million digital users and an increasingly affluent consumer base, the country is “awash with opportunity” for UK tech, says Cleave.
He identifies automotive and electric mobility, cleantech, medtech & life sciences as the sectors set to experience the most rapid growth in India next year.
Vietnam should also be in the sights of UK tech argues Cleave. With GDP growing at around 7% annually and another business-friendly government, the country’s resilience in the face of disruptions to global trade has reinforced its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets – and as a prime destination for UK companies.
He also points out that Vietnam’s youthful population of more than 100 million creates a vast labour pool and a dynamic market for tech innovations for decades to come. Key sectors powering Vietnam’s growth include advanced manufacturing, property, agriculture and professional services.
In South Korea, Cleave points to major government investment planned for 2026 in AI infrastructure and next-generation data centres, alongside the rollout of a new national AI regulatory framework. These developments, he forecasts, will create valuable openings for UK companies specialising in AI platforms, enterprise AI tools, cybersecurity solutions and infrastructure-integration technologies.
Cleave says: “In India, government policy, global capital and domestic talent are converging at a pace that will make 2026 the ideal time for UK innovators to enter the market. But the window could soon close as US, European and Middle Eastern competitors crowd in.
“Vietnam and Korea also offer compelling opportunities for UK tech firms as demographic shifts, rising digitalisation and gaps in home-grown innovation drive demand for international collaboration.”
A recent report by the UK Parliament’s Business & Trade Committee forecasts that £7 trillion in new wealth will be generated across the Asia Pacific region (excluding China) within the next five years – more than double the UK’s current GDP. Yet the report warns that the UK is still “punching below its weight” in accessing these high-growth markets, despite its strong technological capability.
Cleave cautions that entering Asian markets requires tailored strategies and specialist support: “Distinct business cultures, procurement processes and regulatory frameworks can be challenging. But with the right guidance, the combination of rising tech investment in Asia and long-term structural trends makes these markets among the most attractive in the world for ambitious UK tech firms in 2026.”
Headquartered in Oxfordshire, Intralink has a presence in 27 locations including Shanghai, Beijing, New Delhi, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, London, Paris, Silicon Valley, Boston and Toronto. The consultancy helps companies to secure customers, partners and investors in overseas markets, and enables government agencies to grow their exports and attract foreign investment.
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
techUK supports members with their international trade plans and aspirations. We help members to understand market opportunities, tackle market access barriers, and build partnerships in their target market. Visit the programme page here.
techUK Report - Enabling Growth and Resilience: the UK Tech Sector in an Uncertain World
New techUK report outlines key policy recommendations to boost the UK’s growth through the tech sector amid global challenges, emphasising resilience, trade leadership, and strategic investment.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Lewis' programmes cover a range of policy areas within Market Access (international trade regulation, sanctions and export controls, technical standards and product compliance, supply chains) and Consumer Tech (media and broadcast policy, consumer electronics, and connected home technology).
Prior to joining techUK, Lewis worked in government affairs and policy roles for international trade associations in Southeast Asia including the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Public Policy & Management from SOAS University of London.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
