Cloud computing is regarded as the key to unlocking the next stage of a technological revolution that has been progressing in the UK over the past decade. The UK tech scene has experienced dramatic growth in the past decade, 创造就业和机会, and leading to cross-sector collaboration that has pushed innovation forward. However, cloud computing software businesses are currently being overlooked for valuable R&D税收减免 support, which could help to supercharge the UK tech sector.
英国金融科技行业, 例如, has been built on the foundations of cloud computing which is an enabler of the sector. Whilst the great successes of UK Fintech are held in high regard, it is cloud computing software that has enabled many of these fledgling businesses to thrive.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption and use of cloud computing, driven by businesses and consumers who have sought solutions to a new way of working and living. 大流行前的远程或混合工作, 例如, 对很多在办公室工作的人来说少见吗. In 2020, 然而, the proportion of people working from home more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cloud computing facilitated business continuity and online collaboration.
在COVID-19大流行期间, cloud computing software companies grew at an extraordinary rate, 英国也不能幸免. As the nation was forced inside and onto digital devices, cloud computing gave businesses the ability to continue operating. 它可以从任何地方访问文件, shared access so that teams could work collaboratively whilst not physically near each other and all whilst retaining or even increasing security levels. The need to adapt to become a digital workforce was enabled through cloud software and accelerated what had for many been a long-term goal in just months. 事实上, 在进入大流行仅仅几个月之后, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted that the company had seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months.
Cloud computing software has already offered a vast range of benefits to businesses that have boosted their capabilities. 其中包括企业服务, allowing them to host their data and run their applications from the cloud, both of which crucially important as businesses were unable to access their hardware in the same way as before the pandemic. And for those who were reluctant to use cloud computing software, 这些企业被迫适应新常态. This trend is firmly in the direction of further adoption and integration of these technology.
Despite the raft of technological innovations that cloud computing has already produced there are still more advances being made in the technology and even the initial step into using the cloud can come at a significant cost for some businesses. 这是我的想法, it is surprising that it is not supported by the UK Government in terms of innovation funding.
R的影响&D tax credits has been proven by emerging technology such as Blockchain technology which currently qualifies for R&D税收减免. This Government mechanism helps to drive blockchain companies to innovate and introduce new products in this space. Given the growth of the blockchain industry and the benefits which the tax credits can bring to companies, the Government should be levelling up the opportunities for those technologies which are beneficial to more businesses, and which have had such a crucial impact on the way we work.
然而,R&D tax credits cannot currently be claimed by key enablers of innovation such as cloud computing, 大数据和数据分析. 尽管R&D对金融科技的减税支持, which has helped in making the UK an international centre of fintech excellence, 这并没有扩展到云计算, 科技产业的关键推动者.
Cloud computing is currently under review for whether it should qualify for wider R&D tax credits and we believe that it should be able to receive the same relief. It is essential that cloud computing businesses continue the growth they experienced during the pandemic. Whilst the scale of cloud computing consumption is vast in the UK, with 42% of enterprises in the UK buying cloud services used over the internet, and 29% of UK manufacturing enterprises buying cloud file storage, further Government support will ensure that the UK retains its position as a leader in technological innovation.
