London, known for its thriving financial services sector, abundant talent pool, favorable business environment, and esteemed international reputation, has claimed the

coveted title of the world's foremost high-tech city. This recognition comes from the seventh edition of the Smart Centres Index, published by Z/Yen Group today.

Rising from second place, London secured its position at the top of the list, outshining global tech powerhouses such as New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and Lugano, which joined it in the top five. Oxford also earned an impressive seventh place, showcasing Europe's prominence in the tech landscape with four cities in the top 10.

The news of London surpassing New York as the leading tech hub will surely be received with delight by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has consistently expressed his ambition to transform the entire UK into a tech and innovation superpower. In a lighthearted speech, Sunak humorously referred to the country as the "Unicorn Kingdom," a nod to the 162 startups valued at $1 billion or more that have emerged from the UK thus far.

While comedy may not be Sunak's calling, his point remains valid. In 2022 alone, UK tech firms secured a staggering £24 billion in funding, surpassing the combined investments of France (£11.8 billion) and Germany (£9.1 billion) and establishing the UK as the world's third-largest tech sector.

Leading this surge in investment is London, which serves as the home for numerous promising tech companies, including Deliveroo, Revolut, and Wise. The city also boasts emerging startups like DeepMind, an AI research lab, and Improbable, a metaverse developer, further solidifying its position as the center of technological innovation. Photo by Philippe Salgarolo, Wikimedia commons.