Britain’s Presence at CES Declines, Raising Concerns Over Innovation Potential

Britain’s participation in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest technology trade fair, has significantly decreased in recent years, according to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes the event.

Shapiro expressed disappointment over the UK’s reduced engagement at the show, calling it “a shame” and noting that it “doesn’t make sense” given the country’s ongoing potential in technological innovation. He highlighted that other European nations, such as France and the Netherlands, had a stronger presence in Eureka Park, the section of CES dedicated to start-ups. He even noted that Ukraine had a more visible presence at the event than the UK, adding that the British government no longer provides the same level of support it once did for such international events.

CES, held annually in Las Vegas, draws thousands of exhibitors and around 400,000 visitors. It is a major global platform for the latest in technology, attracting both industry giants like Microsoft and a wide array of smaller start-ups. This year, only 41 UK companies are scheduled to attend the event, including BT Group’s incubation arm, Etc, healthtech company Elvie, and location-based service provider what3words.

The decline in UK attendance stands in stark contrast to 2019, when over 100 British firms participated under the leadership of then-International Trade Secretary Liam Fox. During that year’s show, eight UK companies won innovation awards, and the government touted “millions of pounds worth of deals” signed as a result. Shapiro described it as “crazy” that the UK no longer places as much focus on CES, considering the historic ties between the two countries.

“We are the largest technology event in the world by far,” Shapiro emphasized, noting that CES attracts over 50,000 international visitors and remains the largest business event in the United States.

Experts are now questioning whether the UK’s reduced presence at CES signals a broader shift in its tech industry, particularly given the current climate of innovation and international collaboration. Despite the decline in UK attendance, CES continues to serve as a vital venue for tech companies to showcase their innovations to a global audience, sparking both concern and calls for greater investment in the UK’s presence at future events.