The next generation of tech ecosystems

 

This report is the conclusion of a data-driven analysis of 201 tech ecosystems. The coming years will be dominated by radical innovation and a need for next-generation types of tech ecosystems that can bring together entrepreneurship, patient capital, deep R&D, and science.

So rather than measuring a status quo, this set of actionable benchmarks is meant as a tool to help ecosystems understand and measure their maturity and preparedness for the future.


Over 201 tech hubs identified and analyzed

Tech ecosystems are emerging everywhere. There are now 168 cities with at least one unicorn (versus just 12 in 2010). Knowledge about building startups has become much more widespread in the last decade. Innovation and entrepreneurship are today’s dominant drivers of economic growth, and data shows that unicorns can be excellent founder factories, creating a positive flywheel effect. For this report, 201 cities in 65 countries were analyzed.

For more on our methodology, criteria, scores and weighting access the full report.

One of a kind framework to benchmark ecosystems globally

Every hub is benchmarked against three lenses: Trailblazers, Science Hubs, and Rising Stars. A unique combination of criteria and weightings is applied to each lens. The benchmarking incorporates factors such as prior startup success rates, venture capital investment raised by a city’s startups at different stages of their growth journey, the entrepreneurial output of universities, and patent filings - the first time these datasets have been combined.

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Trailblazers

(Scale lens)

When looking at raw scale the top spots are snagged by the usual suspects: the Bay Area, New York and Boston. These Trailblazers lead across almost all metrics. These locales benefit from the presence of strong venture capital sectors and full-stack capital markets. Their success drives the tech and venture capital industry forward globally, hence the term.

In the table below, you can dive into each ecosystem’s combined rank as well as their ranking in each of the criteria composing the lens.

Science Hubs

(Per capita lens)

Through the Science Hubs lens, more emphasis is placed on deep tech, university talent and patents. Patent data combined with venture capital data paints a powerful picture of innovation. Density is also an important factor for science hubs, especially in highly specialized clusters. Science Hubs are integral to the development of novel and cutting-edge technology, like Deep Tech.

In the table below, you can dive into each ecosystem’s combined rank as well as their ranking in each of the criteria composing the lens.

Rising Stars

(Growth lens)

When considering ecosystem growth many less obvious names rise to the top, often in emerging economies with a lower cost of living. These hubs benefit from the globalization of venture capital and distributed teams, as well as from the presence of local early-stage VCs. However, they lack depth of follow-on investors and require strong connections to bigger ecosystems in order to thrive.

In the table below, you can dive into each ecosystem’s combined rank as well as their ranking in each of the criteria composing the lens.

For more on our methodology, bespoke findings, in-depth analysis and regional insights, access the full report.