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back to article ICT globalisation survey: UK's tops - 'cos we don't care who buys our firms

The UK has topped an industry ranking of countries on ICT globalisation. But before PM David Cameron and co start patting themselves on the back, they should consider this stand-out performance is entirely down to the UK's willingness to sell its promising tech to the highest bidder rather than nurture it to maturity. An …

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  1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

    R&D globalisation - no

    Canada and Australia score highly on business surveys R&D only because of the tax advantages of doing R&D here rather than the UK.

    Pretty much anything that can be counted as R&D gets a tax rebate. The result is that every activity that doesn't involve chopping down trees or digging up coal is R&D. But finding skilled people, access to world class universities and innovative companies? Lets just say that even Alberta doesn't quite compete with the area around Cambridge or Stamford.

    Saying it leads the world in R&D is like saying that Ireland leads the world in internet search or operating system development because Microsoft and Google have the eu HQ there.

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  2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
    FAIL

    UK company bosses. "We don't just sell out to anyone"

    You have to pay us.

    IDK. Is the VC backers forcing them to sell up at the first hint of someone who'll give them anything close to their preferred return?

    Is it the senior managers who don't have what it takes to want to be a global player* ?

    *Except Autonomy, whose board did not have any scruples about wanting world domination. Or perhaps just any scruples?

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    1. Colin Brett
      Reply Icon

      Re: UK company bosses. "We don't just sell out to anyone"

      "Is the VC backers forcing them to sell up at the first hint of someone who'll give them anything close to their preferred return?"

      Cynical but probably true. However, there is an alternative view: that UK bosses know they'll never get appropriate support and protection from Whitehall and sell to overseas companies who can protect their assets (e.g. IP and patents).

      Colin

      PS: "Christopher Clague" ... the offspring of Nick Clegg and William Hague? <<shudder>>

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      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
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        Unhappy

        Re: UK company bosses. "We don't just sell out to anyone"

        "Cynical but probably true. However, there is an alternative view: that UK bosses know they'll never get appropriate support and protection from Whitehall and sell to overseas companies who can protect their assets (e.g. IP and patents)."

        IIRC the UK has some of the weakest hostile takeover protection in Europe.

        PS: "Christopher Clague" ... the offspring of Nick Clegg and William Hague?

        That's just an image no one needs in their heads.

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  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Mercenary / Prostitute / Selling the family silver*

    *Delete as applicable.

    What could possibly go wrong...?

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