techUK’s Market Access Brief: International Opportunities for tech companies

See upcoming events, opportunities, news, and updates from techUK's International Trade Programme…

Welcome to the latest Market Access Brief insight. This is a new fortnightly insight which focuses on the events, opportunities, trade missions, as well as wider updates that we have within the techUK International programme and from our members and stakeholders.

Separately, we wanted to note that if you are a techUK member, you are entitled to advertising events, updates, and opportunities to our wider network of members, prospects, and stakeholders, through this newsletter. To do this, please email [email protected].

techUK Events, Opportunities and Trade Missions:

Join techUK on Friday, 16 May from 12:00 - 14:00 for an in-person discussion and in-formal lunch with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in London and U.S. diplomats from across Europe. This exclusive session will focus on the evolving landscape of technology regulation in the UK and the EU. Members are encouraged to discuss their views on the digital regulatory landscape and approaches to AI in the UK and EU, alongside how the US Government and its embassies across the UK and Europe can support key challenges faced by industry. Please note, this opportunity is available to techUK members only. Find out more and sign up here. 

In this exclusive roundtable, techUK is delighted to host Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Minister Liisa Pakosta, for an open discussion with UK tech leaders on the future of digital public services and digital regulation as well as the prospects for deepening the UK-Estonia Tech Partnership.

techUK is delighted to be working with GITEX to take our first-ever delegation to GITEX Europe in Berlin. GITEX Europe 2025, one of Europe’s largest tech and startup event, takes place from May 21–23, 2025, at Messe Berlin, Germany, advancing Europe’s digital future in partnership with the world. Join 40,000+ professionals, 2,000+ exhibitors, and 1,000 startups from 100+ countries for 600+ hours of content across different industries, featuring 500+ expert speakers. Find more information and how to sign up here.

On day 2 of London Tech Week, join techUK as we explore the barriers and opportunities to scale a tech business in the UK, following the release of our Scale-Up Action Plan report. The UK is still the top destination in Europe for tech investment – but if we want to stay ahead, we need to do more to support the businesses driving innovation, jobs, and growth to successfully scale. This event will connect tech SMEs, scale-ups, investors and experts to share their insights on growth, and network with others from across the ecosystem. To register, click here.

techUK is delighted to be working with the British Embassy in Paris and Business France to take our first-ever delegation to VIVATECH in Paris on 11-14 June 2025. VIVATECH is France's largest tech conference, with over 5000 tech companies and investors attending each year. In addition to access to VIVATECH, techUK will be organising a series of engagements for members on the sidelines of the event to provide members with opportunities to network, connect to the French business community and investment agencies and understand the French ecosystem and opportunities. Find more information and sign up here.

External events, opportunities, and trade missions

Internet Day is a space for exchange and debate on the industry scenario, new technologies, new business models and the legal framework to develop them. Various speakers share their experiences with the public and present the latest trends in new technologies and the industry. Find out more here.

Following on from the growing success of the last ADS/HMG led Trade Mission to Ukraine alongside Norwegian and Dutch Industry ADS are now planning for their next Trade Mission. ADS, working alongside UK HMG and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) member states, will be hosting a Multinational Defence Trade Mission to Kyiv in May 2025. The capability focus for this mission will be: Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) / Counter-UAS systems, Connectivity, including Electronic Warfare (EW), Counter EW and Cyber, Optics, including camera systems, and Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGV). If interested, please reach out to [email protected] who can provide more details.

On May 19-28, a Ukrainian delegation consisting of Ukrainian mayors, government officials, Ukrainian business leaders, associations and organizations will arrive in London, UK, from May 19 to 25, in Leeds on May 22 and Edinburgh on May 26-28 with Trade Mission to establish direct access for British companies to local leaders, projects and contacts on IT, innovative technology solutions and startups alongside other focus topics. With London’s strong track record of support through public-private partnerships, this mission strives to deepen connection, unlocking new opportunities for both nations. Find out more and sign up here.

Join Larkspur International on Tuesday 20 May, 9:00 – 12:00 BST, for an engaging workshop designed to equip SMEs with practical strategies for effectively engaging government stakeholders, building influence and networking skills within governmental contexts. Gain valuable insights through real-world case studies from various sectors and seize the opportunity to connect directly with government representatives and fellow SMEs. Sign up here.

Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshows are touring six UK regions in 2025: Northern England, Midlands, Wales, Southern England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Each roadshow event will be spotlighting a different sector. Open to all industries, these dynamic events are designed to boost your confidence in global trade and fast-track your export growth. Whether you're new to international markets or scaling up your global presence, if you have an export-ready product or service, these roadshows offer direct access to buyers, sector experts, and overseas market specialists. Each event features a flexible programme of seminars, commercial zones, and business support led by senior representatives from the Department for Business and Trade. Sector themes include clean energy in Blyth (24 April), life sciences in Oxford (16 July), advanced manufacturing in Birmingham (15 May), technology in Cardiff (13 June), creative and digital in Belfast (11 September), and financial services in Edinburgh (25 September). Register your interest here today.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is delighted to invite businesses from the North of England to a speed networking event with customs specialists from DBT, Expeditors, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC). Focusing on the consumer and retail sector, the event will offer the unique opportunity for businesses to access tailored advice and support on entering Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) markets. Find out more and sign up here.

Join Department for Business and Trade, Think&Grow and Oury Clark for a candid, founder-led breakfast session designed for UK tech businesses eyeing expansion into Australia. Whether you’re mapping out your first market move or wrestling with the next phase of growth, this is your chance to connect, learn, and be part of a raw and relevant conversation with others on the same path. This event is for founders and decision makers in tech, who are actively looking at the Australian market and the broader APAC region, or have started to sell into the market. Find out more and sign up here.

HLTH Europe is holding their annual health event, where global expertise meets local insights to address Europe’s unique healthcare challenges and opportunities. This year key focuses will be on innovation, connected health, and data and AI. The Department of Business and Trade will be running a UK pavilion at the event to support digital health companies from the UK looking to expand into European markets. DBT’s exhibit package is expected to cost approximately €4000 for a company branded stand (with screen) on the UK pavilion and two entry tickets. The general admission to the conference is €1,795 so being part of the delegation is a cost-effective option (see ticket prices for start-ups / public sector / buyers here). DBT will allocate places on a rolling basis, so responding as soon as possible is advised. Express interest in exhibiting with DBT here. For members-only discounts, please contact [email protected].

COMEX – Global Technology Show showcases the trends & breakthrough technologies that impact the way people live, communicate, work & network in the 21st century. For 33 years COMEX, has been serving as a sourcing and networking hub for Oman technology market and continues to be one of the Gulf’s leading platforms for ICT procurement, new product launches and technology demonstrations. Join top ICT elites, innovators and entrepreneurs from the world in showcasing the most advanced and innovative ICT products, attracting more than 5,000 local and international trade visitors from Government and private sectors. This year, a special emphasis is being given this year to Oil & Gas, Transport & Logistics, Investments in ICT, Education, Healthcare, Banking & Finance, Tourism, Retail and Manufacturing. Sign up here.

The British High Commission Canberra, in association with Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) and ADS Group, invites you to join a trade mission to meet and engage with stakeholders in Australia’s cyber ecosystem and identify business and collaboration opportunities. Please submit your Expressions of Interest to [email protected] with [email protected] & [email protected] copied by the 30 May.

Intralink’s Government-backed UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme provides support for UK firms to expand in 11 APAC markets: Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. Intralink’s teams on the ground in APAC can identify participants’ business opportunities, provide market entry advice and help companies sell their products, forge partnerships and raise investment. The services on offer are either free of charge or heavily subsidised by the UK Government. They include skills workshops; in-market visits and trade missions; opportunities to pitch to APAC corporates looking to adopt and invest in UK tech; and 10-week ‘business development initiatives’. Find out more and apply to participate in the programme here. 

Updates and News from techUK Members & Stakeholders

Santander’s Trade Barometer is a twice-yearly survey of over 1,000 UK businesses with a minimum £1m turnover. Amid the rapidly evolving global trade landscape, the Barometer offers valuable, timely data to help government advise businesses wanting to trade internationally, as it covers business sentiment towards international trade and identifies regional and sectoral differences. Read the full results of the survey here.

International business development consultancy Intralink has expanded its global presence to India to help UK technology companies secure customers and partners in this rapidly-developing market, and to enable Indian businesses to grow overseas. With Intralink now operating from New Delhi and Mumbai, this is the latest step in the company’s plans to enable even more companies around the world to expand in international markets. Read more here.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Lviv IT Cluster, present CodeUA, a national tech marketplace, enabling international businesses to connect, collaborate and partner with verified Ukrainian tech companies, strengthening global networks and fostering growth across borders, without financial risk. With over 2100 verified IT-companies, around 2000 startups and over 300,000 skilled professionals, the Ukrainian tech sector is a vital driver for the European tech market. Find out more here.

DBT are conducting some research on how the Singapore Digital Economy Agreement has been working in practice for businesses. The outcome of this engagement will feed into government-to-government discussions with our counterparts in Singapore. The agreement committee meeting with Singapore is expected to take place this year. Their aim is to support this forum by gathering information and feedback from UK businesses regarding their experience with the agreement, particularly any issues or barriers that have encountered that’s within scope. If you have any experience (good or bad) of trading with Singapore please complete our survey here.

On 15 December 2024, the UK officially became a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking a significant achievement as the first non-founding and first European county to join. techUK’s insight outlines the benefits and opportunities this membership provides for UK businesses seeking to strengthen their presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the UK Government released guidance documents to help businesses navigate the agreement’s provisions. Read more here.

The Scottish Government has published a Gender Export Gap research report to further understand what difference greater participation by women in exporting could make to the achievement of Scotland’s wider trade and economic targets. Reducing the gender export gap in Scotland could increase total turnover by up to £10.3 billion over two years. The report also put forward 10 recommendations to the Scottish Government on how to address the gender export gap. Read the report here and the response to recommendations here.

While Japan was at the forefront of quantum computing in the late 1990s, it has fallen behind in recent years and the Japanese government is now investing heavily to catch up. This is creating significant opportunities for UK firms specialising in quantum computing hardware, software and services to work with Japanese companies to bridge the gap between where quantum computing is today and real-world commercial applications. This report details these opportunities, recommends market entry strategies and covers different viable business models, all illustrated by high-value case studies and testimonials from in-market players. Click here to read the report.

Understanding how to manage your local talent is a crucial part of setting up shop in a new country and securing mid-to-long-term growth. In Asia, even experienced team builders often run into unexpected issues. Intralink invited experts in talent attraction and executive search from across Asia to advise you – talking Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Watch the skills workshop here.

At the start of 2024, the UK rejoined Horizon Europe. That means that Horizon Europe applicants can take their bids to the next level by utilising the UK's thriving R&D infrastructure. The UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) is encouraging the brightest thinkers with the biggest ideas from across Europe to partner with UK scientists, researchers and businesses through the world-leading Horizon Europe programme, as part of a new international campaign that launches today (Thursday 14th March). Further information can be found at the UK's Horizon Europe Hub, which includes a tool for searching for Horizon Europe partners.

techUK member Hawksford are pleased to announce the launch of their new eBook, ‘Doing business in the UK’. This publication provides an overview of what you need to know when considering doing business in the UK, including the fundamentals of investing, from setting up a company in particular jurisdictions to successfully running a business. Click here to read.

If you would like to put events, opportunities, or updates in this newsletter insight, and you are a techUK member or stakeholder, please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]

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.