Ownership

Elements of this Action Plan are already underway, with activity progressing across all priority areas through existing programmes, partnerships and ecosystem actors. From 2026, further activity will be mobilised and aligned through Tech SY’s coordinating role, with shared ownership across stakeholders. The collective ambition is to realise the full set of outcomes over the next 3–5 years, embedding lasting, system-wide change.

TECH SY owns this action plan as the strategic convener, system integrator and delivery steward for the regional tech ecosystem. Ownership does not mean delivering everything directly. Instead, TECH SY is responsible for setting the direction, coordinating delivery across partners, holding activity to account against outcomes, and ensuring that gaps are identified and addressed. TECH SY provides the backbone functions that enable the system to work, including governance, data and insight, ecosystem leadership, narrative development, and relationship management with national bodies, investors and delivery partners.

In practice, TECH SY owns the plan by maintaining the overarching roadmap, tracking progress against agreed measures, and ensuring alignment with the SYMCA Growth Plan. It acts as the connector between local authorities, business support providers, investors, universities, skills bodies and the private sector. It uses evidence to influence funding, policy and programme design, and it ensures that initiatives across finance, support, talent and markets are joined up around the needs of tech businesses.

By owning the action plan in this way, TECH SY creates economic benefit not through duplication of delivery, but through smarter coordination, stronger partnerships and clearer focus. This approach maximises the value of public and private investment, accelerates business growth, improves productivity and supports the emergence of South Yorkshire as a credible and competitive technology economy at a national and international level.

What can be achieved through collective buy?

Strategic Positioning & Ecosystem Recognition

South Yorkshire: A nationally and globally recognized tech hub for innovation.

Visibility, Voice & Messaging

Unified, inclusive messaging amplifies South Yorkshire’s tech visibility worldwide.

Investment & Economic Growth

Driving sustained, diverse investment for a competitive, self-sustaining tech economy.

Talent, Skills & Employment

Building a skilled, diverse tech workforce that powers regional growth.

Startup & Scaleup Success

Strengthening the pipeline for startups and scaleups to achieve global impact.

Infrastructure & Workspace

Expanding tech hubs and workspaces to fuel early-stage innovation.

High-Quality Support

Accessible, connected support makes South Yorkshire the best place to grow tech.

Data, Evidence & Insight

Data-driven intelligence shaping policy, strategy, and ecosystem growth.

Market Reach & Exporting

Empowering tech businesses to compete and thrive in global markets.

Community, Mentorship & Culture

A collaborative culture where founders give back and businesses grow together.

Strategic Alignment & Co-Creation

Co-created strategies unite stakeholders and accelerate cluster success.