Royal Academy of Engineering Inaugural Lecture - Professor Mark Logan - How Scotland becomes a leading global centre for tech start-ups
Scotland was once – temporarily – labelled “The Silicon Glen”. But this was a fragile economy, with few indigenous start-ups to compensate when the large tech companies pulled out. But now, with hundreds of early-stage start-ups active in Scotland, and with Scottish businesses like Skyscanner breaking through to large-scale success, the environment is changing. How can Scotland dramatically strengthen and accelerate this fledgling tech start-up economy to create a true Silicon Valley in Scotland?
School of Computing Science
Date: Tuesday 18 February 2020
Time: 16:00 - 18:00
Venue: Lecture Theatre 466, Main Building*
Category: Public lectures
Speaker: Professor Mark Logan
Scotland was once – temporarily – labelled “The Silicon Glen”. But this was a fragile economy, with few indigenous start-ups to compensate when the large tech companies pulled out. But now, with hundreds of early-stage start-ups active in Scotland, and with Scottish businesses like Skyscanner breaking through to large-scale success, the environment is changing. How can Scotland dramatically strengthen and accelerate this fledgling tech start-up economy to create a true Silicon Valley in Scotland? In this inaugural lecture for his Visiting Professorship in the school of Computing Science, Mark will propose achievable steps to bringing about this goal and argue that The University of Glasgow has a major role in making it happen.
Professor Mark Logan was appointed as Professor of Practice in the School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow in September 2019. Mark's appointment is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering's Visiting Professors Scheme for a three year term. Mark is an active advisor to and investor in startups and scale ups across Scotland and beyond. He was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Skyscanner, a Scottish tech-startup success story that was recently acquired for £1.4 billion. As part of his visiting professorship, he will be creating a new course within the School on Growth Startup Engineering.
This inaugural lecture shares Mark's vision for Scotland's technology startup sector.
A drinks reception will be served after the lecture.
*Please note that an alternative venue may be arranged to accommodate demand for attendance. Please monitor the Eventbrite registration page and emails for any change of venue.