In 2021, across the world, discussions of post-pandemic recovery centred around building back better. This narrative aligns with the current UK government\u2019s agenda for levelling up<\/a>. Published in February 2022, the Levelling Up White Paper highlighted technological progress as a key driver in addressing geographical disparities across the UK, reflected in both social and economic outcomes.<\/p>\n Technology that serves major public needs, such as building or upgrading public infrastructure<\/a>, is defined as public purpose technology\u00a0(PPT). Our latest publication, StateUp 21: Data-driven insights into global public purpose tech<\/a>, aims to help public servants to understand what technologies are available to address pressing local and global public needs, and entrepreneurs and investors to navigate the gaps and opportunities. StateUp 21 combines macroanalysis based on tens of thousands of data points on PPT innovation with its centrepiece – detailed case studies of 21 emerging and leading start-ups addressing major public needs.<\/p>\n Last year, in our inaugural StateUp 21 publication, we predicted that 2021 would be an important year for developments in infrastructure and the built environment. This has been the case, particularly at the level of policy; for example, the far-reaching commitments in the $1.2tn US Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. In 2022, we expect there to be multiple implications for technology procurement and uptake at the local level as a result of policy developments, particularly for technology focused on resilience building. As the Levelling Up White Paper notes: cities, towns and communities must be physically and digitally connected if they are to thrive.<\/p>\n The paper also states that: technology adoption is a key driver of productivity. It goes on to highlight government investment in the adoption of 5G by start-ups, for example, through the \u00a3200m in funding for 5G testbeds and trials since 2017. This demonstrates a growing understanding of the key role start-up-driven PPT has to play in levelling up, both through technology innovation<\/a> and adoption.<\/p>\n