Cambridge has been identified as the most innovation-intensive city in the UK, according to a report by Dealroom. The city ranks fourth globally, following San Francisco, Boston, and New York.
The Global Tech Ecosystem Index by Dealroom evaluates start-up ecosystems in 288 cities across 69 countries. It measures innovation intensity by examining ecosystems that perform well relative to their population size. These hubs are characterized by high start-up activity, research intensity, and strong connections with local universities.
Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge, commented on the city's achievement: “It’s great to see that, as a relatively small city, Cambridge continues to lead the UK in innovation intensity but it’s no accident that we punch above our weight. In recent years, the University and the wider ecosystem have put in place a range of initiatives to ensure that we realise our potential and are able to bring transformative science and technologies out of the lab and into the real world.”
Gerard Grech, Head of Founders at the University of Cambridge who supports new ventures from the university, remarked: “Cambridge is proof of what happens when world-class research meets relentless ambition. While global venture capital funding in 2024 pulled back, Cambridge doubled investment - a powerful signal that deep tech innovation is increasingly leading the way in shaping our future economies."
He further added: “What makes Cambridge unique is its cutting-edge science, an increasing flywheel of people who have successfully scaled ventures, and a culture built to turn ground-breaking ideas into transformative companies.”
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