London Tech Week isn’t just about celebrating innovation, it’s a showcase for London’s competitive advantages, says Chris Hayward

London Tech Week has become far more than a diary fixture for the technology industry. It is an opportunity to demonstrate one of London’s greatest competitive advantages: our ability to bring together innovation, finance and talent in a way few other global cities can match.

At a time of economic uncertainty and intensifying international competition, London should be confident in telling that story. The capital has repeatedly demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt to technological change, from the emergence of fintech to the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The challenge now is to ensure we seize the opportunities that lie ahead and convert our strengths into lasting economic advantage.

But leadership in technology is not measured by investment figures alone. It is also built on trust.

One of the greatest threats facing open societies today is the rise of disinformation. False narratives spread at unprecedented speed online, undermining confidence in our institutions, damaging our reputation overseas and eroding social cohesion at home. In an increasingly connected world, defending the integrity of our public discourse is no longer separate from promoting economic growth.

London has every reason to speak with confidence. The UK is now the world’s third-largest destination for both AI investment and overall technology investment, behind only the United States and China. London is the number one fintech hub representing 11 per cent of the global sector. The UK is home to an estimated 3,300 fintech firms, raising $3.6bn across 534 deals in 2025.

The breadth of the ecosystem

The strength of London’s technology sector lies not in a single postcode, but in the breadth of its ecosystem. The Square Mile remains a global centre of innovation – with around 100,000 people working in the technology sector – while King’s Cross has emerged as one of Europe’s leading technology districts, bringing together major technology companies, academic institutions and entrepreneurial talent.

Innovation, however, must be matched by the infrastructure and governance that allow people to engage with the digital economy safely and confidently. Work on the Digital Verification Orchestrator has the potential to transform how individuals and businesses prove their identity online.

Secure, interoperable digital verification could reduce fraud, streamline transactions and remove friction from everyday interactions, while giving consumers greater confidence that their data is protected. As more of our economy moves online, trusted digital infrastructure will become every bit as important as the physical infrastructure on which previous generations depended.

The City of London Corporation has also recognised the importance of digitalisation of wholesale markets and tokenisation. We are supporting the Digital Markets Champion in securing the UK’s position as an open, competitive and trusted international centre for digital asset innovation and liquidity.

Technology also has a crucial role to play in tackling crime. Fraud now accounts for a significant proportion of all crime experienced in the UK, devastating lives and costing billions of pounds each year. The City of London Police, as the national lead force for fraud, is at the forefront of the response. Through advanced analytics, intelligence sharing and the capabilities being developed through its new Salisbury Square headquarters, policing is harnessing technology to identify criminal networks, disrupt offending and better protect the public.

London Tech Week should therefore be about more than celebrating the latest innovations. It should be a statement of intent. London has the ingredients to lead in the technologies that will shape the future. In a world increasingly defined by technological change, London’s message should be simple: we are not just adapting to the future. We are helping to build it.

Chris Hayward is policy chairman at the City of London Corporation