Consultancy Intralink urges innovators to act now to steal march on competitors
India, Vietnam and South Korea will be the most dynamic global growth markets for UK tech companies in 2026, according to a British business development specialist.
Jonathan Cleave, Group Managing Director at international business development consultancy Intralink, says he expects significant commercial openings for UK firms across Asia next year and highlights India, Vietnam and Korea as the most promising markets.
He says that UK tech has only “realised a fraction of the potential” of these markets so far and risks “losing ground to fast-moving rivals” unless companies accelerate their expansion strategies. Based in Seoul, Cleave and his team at Intralink have helped thousands of western tech companies to expand in Asia’s major markets over the last 35 years, and supported 203 UK firms with their export plans in 2024 alone.
He predicts that India will offer huge rewards in 2026, given the country’s sheer scale, increasing R&D investment and its pro-business government. The country’s $4 trillion economy is projected to multiply eightfold by 2047. And, as it produces a third of the entire world’s STEM graduates, has more than 900 million digital users and an increasingly affluent consumer base, the country is “awash with opportunity” for UK tech, says Cleave.
He identifies automotive and electric mobility, cleantech, medtech & life sciences as the sectors set to experience the most rapid growth in India next year.
Vietnam should also be in the sights of UK tech argues Cleave. With GDP growing at around 7% annually and another business-friendly government, the country’s resilience in the face of disruptions to global trade has reinforced its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets – and as a prime destination for UK companies.
He also points out that Vietnam’s youthful population of more than 100 million creates a vast labour pool and a dynamic market for tech innovations for decades to come. Key sectors powering Vietnam’s growth include advanced manufacturing, property, agriculture and professional services.
In South Korea, Cleave points to major government investment planned for 2026 in AI infrastructure and next-generation data centres, alongside the rollout of a new national AI regulatory framework. These developments, he forecasts, will create valuable openings for UK companies specialising in AI platforms, enterprise AI tools, cybersecurity solutions and infrastructure-integration technologies.
Cleave says: “In India, government policy, global capital and domestic talent are converging at a pace that will make 2026 the ideal time for UK innovators to enter the market. But the window could soon close as US, European and Middle Eastern competitors crowd in.
“Vietnam and Korea also offer compelling opportunities for UK tech firms as demographic shifts, rising digitalisation and gaps in home-grown innovation drive demand for international collaboration.”
A recent report by the UK Parliament’s Business & Trade Committee forecasts that £7 trillion in new wealth will be generated across the Asia Pacific region (excluding China) within the next five years – more than double the UK’s current GDP. Yet the report warns that the UK is still “punching below its weight” in accessing these high-growth markets, despite its strong technological capability.
Cleave cautions that entering Asian markets requires tailored strategies and specialist support: “Distinct business cultures, procurement processes and regulatory frameworks can be challenging. But with the right guidance, the combination of rising tech investment in Asia and long-term structural trends makes these markets among the most attractive in the world for ambitious UK tech firms in 2026.”
Headquartered in Oxfordshire, Intralink has a presence in 27 locations including Shanghai, Beijing, New Delhi, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, London, Paris, Silicon Valley, Boston and Toronto. The consultancy helps companies to secure customers, partners and investors in overseas markets, and enables government agencies to grow their exports and attract foreign investment.
For more information on Intralink, visit: www.intralinkgroup.com