Technology and engineering
Scotland’s technology sector is booming - growing one and half times faster than the overall economy. Our universities produce thousands of skilled graduates every year and digital tech salaries are 26% higher than the Scottish average.
1,500 Tech companies
Contribute £4.9 billion to the Scottish economy and support nearly 100,000 jobs.
Fast-growing sector
Scotland's digital tech sector has one and half times faster growth than the rest of the economy
15,000 graduates
Annual number of graduates in digital technology fields
Source: Skills Development Scotland
Why choose Scotland for your tech company
- Highly skilled workforce – our universities produce thousands of graduates in tech, maths, engineering and science subjects each year
- Strong tech cluster – we have over 1,500 technology companies, and our digital technology sector is forecast to grow twice as fast as the Scottish economy overall
- Competitive costs - salary costs are among the lowest in Europe (fDi benchmark report)
- Access to market opportunities - Scotland is globally connected with strong links to the UK, Europe and the rest of the world
- Excellent innovation infrastructure - including universities and innovation labs that encourage collaboration between companies in digital health, data, sensors and oil and gas
- Fantastic quality of life – low commuting times, beautiful countryside and buzzing cultural life make Scotland a great place to live as well as do business
Scotland's tech sector
Scotland’s tech sector has particular strength in software development, data science, digital health, sensors and connectivity.
Our innovation labs have been designed to encourage collaboration between companies, academic and public sector organisations. This means innovative products can be designed and tested in real world scenarios.
Edinburgh was recently named the UK's top city for start-ups and attracts more foreign investment than any other tech cluster in the UK, outside London. According to Tech Nation, it has 92% growth potential.
Read our interview with Nigel Eccles, founder of FanDuel on what makes Edinburgh the ideal place for tech companies.
"When you factor in the level of tech talent available, and the quality of life the city has to offer, you start to see why Edinburgh is quickly establishing a reputation."
Nigel Eccles, founder of FanDuel and Flick
Software, data science, digital health and sensors
- Access to skills - Scotland produces more than 70,000 graduates each year, with around 5,000 in IT subjects and another 10,000 in maths, engineering and science
- Our growing tech cluster - Scotland is home to a large software community ranging from start-ups to multinationals
- Competitive costs - Scottish salary costs are among the lowest in Europe, offering high quality skills at affordable costs
- Our innovation labs - designed to encourage collaboration and partnering opportunities between companies in key technology sectors, such as data, sensors, digital health and oil and gas
- Skills - The Data Lab innovation centre is working with industry and Scotland's 14 university computing science schools to create a pipeline of data scientists and engineers
- Over 150 companies creating data-based products and solutions, and thousands more looking to adopt them
- Access to data markets in digital industries, financial services, energy/oil and gas, healthcare and the public sector
- R&D excellence in data and an environment that supports entrepreneurship and commercial growth.
The Data Lab innovation centre offers collaboration between academia, industry and government. - Innovation in data science - our university data research has an excellent worldwide reputation
- Workforce – large number of graduates in tech disciplines from world leading universities
- Easy access to clinical skills and excellence - including the Digital Health Institute and the NHS
- Groundbreaking, world-renowned research − strengths in infant health, diabetes and dementia
- Growing tech cluster – range of innovative start-ups to significant multinationals based in growing hubs
- Strong economy – diverse sectors require support from tech companies
- Innovation labs - designed to encourage collaboration and partnering opportunities between companies in digital health care, big data and sensors and imaging
- Depth of experience in convergent technologies for partnering and collaboration – from micro and nanotechnology, physics and photonics to materials and technical textiles, electronics and specialised software solutions
Skilled tech staff
Scotland has one of the highest concentrations of universities in Europe, with four regularly featuring in the top 200 universities in the world. Over 50% of the population has further education, more than anywhere else in the UK.
Chris Gough from Hewlett Packard explains why Scotland’s workforce was the deciding factor in locating here.
Find the right supply chain partners
We have companies involved at every level of the sector: from automotive manufacture, to passenger information systems, and from component manufacturers to technical support services.
Our searchable company directory allows you to find all that you need to develop, test and get your product/service to market in Scotland and internationally.
The sector offers expertise in technical services, building and civil engineering, construction machinery, offsite fabrication, and higher education and research.
Our searchable company directory allows you to find all that you need to develop, test and get your product/service to market in Scotland and internationally.
The sector boasts expertise in vessel manufacture, systems and equipment for vessels, technical services, ports and harbours, and higher education and research.
Our searchable company directory allows you to find all that you need to develop, test and get your product/service to market in Scotland and internationally.
Our expertise includes rolling stock manufacture, rail track infrastructure, bespoke manufacturing services, rail technical services, and higher education and research.
Our searchable company directory allows you to find all that you need to develop, test and get your product/service to market in Scotland and internationally.
Scotland is home to 370 subsea companies with expertise in subsea construction, inspection, repair and maintenance, research and testing, and decommissioning.
Our searchable company directory allows you to find all that you need to develop, test and get your product/service to market in Scotland and internationally.
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Scotland has access to the best talent, investment opportunities, and work life balance.
Financial and tax incentives
We help companies attract investment, research, development funding and tax incentive schemes.
Our people and skills
Access an exceptionally well educated, skilled and talented workforce.
If you have any questions or want to talk with one of our advisers, we're always ready to help.