Latest news with #techhub
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Trying To Help Employees Like Mondays Again
Free coffee, breakfast and lunch are among the perks for London staff. London Tech Week, which began on Monday, may have got off to a mixed start with the news of a series of bids for U.K.-based companies, but there was a perhaps more reassuring message a couple of weeks previously, when a company providing software that aims to improve workflow management, officially opened its London office. The state-of-the-art building, which is in a prime position in the city's West End and comes with a host of features designed to attract workers back to the office, will serve not just as the base for the company's 300-odd U.K. staff, but as the Tel Aviv-based company's European hub. Pierre Berlin, general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said he believed London remained 'the best technology hub in Europe,' with an 'incomparable' talent pool. Ben Barnett, newly-appointed regional vice-president of the U.K. and Ireland, added that 'there was no reason to doubt the long-term appeal of the U.K.' Eran Zinman, co-CEO of the company, said in a release marking the opening at the beginning of this month: 'Our London team plays a vital role in global success – from R&D and product to sales, marketing, and customer success. We are investing significantly in scaling our presence here, and that reflects the deep trust we have in the local ecosystem.' This is despite the fact that the bids for Spectris, Alphawave and Oxford Ionics — worth a combined £6 billion ($8.16 billion) — have renewed concerns about Britain's ability to retain and scale up innovative companies. The U.K. and Ireland business at is one of the fastest-growing in the EMEA region, with the headcount in London more than doubling in the past year. The new building is designed to not just provide enough space for the growing workforce to expand into but to support the collaborative culture that sees as central to its success. Alongside quiet rooms and flexible team zones, it includes dedicated spaces for hackathons, customer workshops and staff gatherings. Cultural details specific to London were incorporated throughout, so rooting the office in the city's identity. Cafes provide free coffee and other beverages as well as breakfast and lunch in an effort to encourage socialising and team building. While not taking as tough a stance as many executives in technology and beyond in demanding a return to the office, Barnett clearly sees the benefit in employees working alongside each other. 'Hybrid is perfect,' he said in an interview ahead of the official opening of the building. While acknowledging that some aspects of work, such as administration and planning, were 'better done at home,' he added that there was 'value' to being in the office together. It brought about moments of serendipity that could make a difference — things like being able to help a colleague after overhearing them in a telephone conversation, or bumping into a colleague from another team in the corridor. With sales, for example, there was a rhythm to the work and a camaraderie that came about through sharing successes as they happened. The company expects staff to be in the office three days a week, although some are there more often. For this reason it was 'intentional' about the design and has gone to great trouble and doubtless no small expense to produce a building that does not just appeal to employees but also to customers and partners. This approach is in contrast with some other companies that have stuck to the remote model that became widespread as a result of the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic. For example, at iplicit, another business software company, chief executive Lyndon Stickley believes not requiring staff to be in an office aids in recruitment. 'Where people live is irrelevant now,' he said in an interview, adding that not having an office to commute to is attractive for many professionals. He conceded that for younger employees being with other people so that they can learn from them 'through osmosis' was really important. But he insisted that the key was to motivate people by making them feel they were turning up for a cause rather than just a job. 'Working remotely is an unbelievable advantage for an agile business,' he said. Like monday, iplicit is growing fast, with 200 employees expected to be on board by the end of the year. Clearly, whatever some well-known leaders of big businesses might have to say, the days of everybody in offices all the time have gone. Indeed, as both and iplicit know all too well from the products and services they offer, where work is done long ceased to be the real issue. It is now all about how it is done.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Is London Losing Its Edge as a Global Tech Hub?
Subscribe to In the City on Apple Podcasts Subscribe to In the City on Spotify London has long prided itself on being a global tech hub, promoting the image of a thriving and ambitious capital for innovation. But that reputation is beginning to slip. Major UK fintech firms like Revolut and Wise are shifting their focus—and listings—to the US, drawn by stronger valuations, deeper market liquidity and better access to compute infrastructure.
CNA
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
China's humanoid robots will not replace human workers: Official
BEIJING: China's humanoid robots will not replace human workers and cause mass unemployment, according to a Chinese official who oversees a tech hub in Beijing, amid a rapid expansion of the sector and state funding for it. Liang Liang, a deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, which hosts one of China's largest tech hubs, said in an interview on Friday (May 16) with foreign media that he does not believe that humanoid robots will replace their human creators, but will boost productivity and operate in hazardous environments. "We don't believe robots will make people unemployed, but rather they'll boost efficiency or take on tasks humans are unwilling to do - like exploring the vast universe or the ocean depths where people can't go. Machines can assist us in that exploration," Liang said. "When it's nighttime and humans need rest, machines could keep working, giving us better, cheaper and more user-friendly products. So we see this as the direction for our future development," he added. Liang explained that the world's first robot half-marathon held last month in Beijing was deliberately set up in a way that would highlight his and other officials' hopes that these humanoids will support and assist humans, rather than replace them. The half-marathon featured two tracks separated by a railing, with humans competing against each other on one side while on the other side 20 teams each operated a robot, varying wildly in size and ability. "You see, in the marathon, humans have their track where they push their physical limits, and the machines have their own track where they jointly challenge their limits - but they aren't trying to take over the human course to sprint to the finish line. The future will be like this too," Liang said. Liang spoke to reporters at the headquarters of state-backed X-Humanoid, also known as the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre, whose robot Tiangong Ultra won the inaugural robot half-marathon. Besides the sports-focused Ultra model, which can reach a top speed of 12kmh, the centre also displayed other protypes that showed it was working on robots that can complete mundane tasks in the face of obstructions and changing environments. In one demonstration, an employee repeatedly moved the position of a piece of litter or snatched it from the robot's hand, which would then relocate the object and carry out the task until it was completed, a self-corrective ability the centre says will be key in turning the humanoids into productive workers.
Malay Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
China's humanoid robots have their own lane — no job stealing here, Beijing official says
BEIJING, May 17 — China's humanoid robots will not replace human workers and cause mass unemployment, according to a Chinese official who oversees a tech hub in Beijing, amid a rapid expansion of the sector and state funding for it. Liang Liang, a deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, which hosts one of China's largest tech hubs, said in an interview yesterday with foreign media that he does not believe that humanoid robots will replace their human creators, but will boost productivity and operate in hazardous environments. 'We don't believe robots will make people unemployed, but rather they'll boost efficiency or take on tasks humans are unwilling to do — like exploring the vast universe or the ocean depths where people can't go. Machines can assist us in that exploration,' Liang said. 'When it's nighttime and humans need rest, machines could keep working, giving us better, cheaper, and more user-friendly products. So we see this as the direction for our future development,' he added. Liang explained that the world's first robot half-marathon held last month in Beijing was deliberately set up in a way that would highlight his and other officials' hopes that these humanoids will support and assist humans, rather than replace them. The half-marathon featured two tracks separated by a railing, with humans competing against each other on one side while on the other side 20 teams each operated a robot, varying wildly in size and ability. 'You see, in the marathon, humans have their track where they push their physical limits, and the machines have their own track where they jointly challenge their limits — but they aren't trying to take over the human course to sprint to the finish line. The future will be like this too,' Liang said. Liang spoke to reporters at the headquarters of state-backed X-Humanoid, also known as the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre, whose robot Tiangong Ultra won the inaugural robot half-marathon. Besides the sports-focused Ultra model, which can reach a top speed of 12 kph, the centre also displayed other protypes that showed it was working on robots that can complete mundane tasks in the face of obstructions and changing environments. In one demonstration, an employee repeatedly moved the position of a piece of litter or snatched it from the robot's hand, which would then relocate the object and carry out the task until it was completed, a self-corrective ability the centre says will be key in turning the humanoids into productive workers. — Reuters
Reuters
17-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
China's humanoid robots will not replace human workers, Beijing official says
BEIJING, May 17 (Reuters) - China's humanoid robots will not replace human workers and cause mass unemployment, according to a Chinese official who oversees a tech hub in Beijing, amid a rapid expansion of the sector and state funding for it. Liang Liang, a deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, which hosts one of China's largest tech hubs, said in an interview on Friday with foreign media that he does not believe that humanoid robots will replace their human creators, but will boost productivity and operate in hazardous environments. "We don't believe robots will make people unemployed, but rather they'll boost efficiency or take on tasks humans are unwilling to do - like exploring the vast universe or the ocean depths where people can't go. Machines can assist us in that exploration," Liang said. "When it's nighttime and humans need rest, machines could keep working, giving us better, cheaper, and more user-friendly products. So we see this as the direction for our future development," he added. Liang explained that the world's first robot half-marathon held last month in Beijing was deliberately set up in a way that would highlight his and other officials' hopes that these humanoids will support and assist humans, rather than replace them. The half-marathon featured two tracks separated by a railing, with humans competing against each other on one side while on the other side 20 teams each operated a robot, varying wildly in size and ability. "You see, in the marathon, humans have their track where they push their physical limits, and the machines have their own track where they jointly challenge their limits - but they aren't trying to take over the human course to sprint to the finish line. The future will be like this too," Liang said. Liang spoke to reporters at the headquarters of state-backed X-Humanoid, also known as the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre, whose robot Tiangong Ultra won the inaugural robot half-marathon. Besides the sports-focused Ultra model, which can reach a top speed of 12 kph (7.56 mph), the centre also displayed other protypes that showed it was working on robots that can complete mundane tasks in the face of obstructions and changing environments. In one demonstration, an employee repeatedly moved the position of a piece of litter or snatched it from the robot's hand, which would then relocate the object and carry out the task until it was completed, a self-corrective ability the centre says will be key in turning the humanoids into productive workers.
