Home Business Events Newcastle hosts the region’s first-ever Google DevFest

Newcastle hosts the region’s first-ever Google DevFest

GDG - Google DevFest

Tech leaders and entrepreneurs from across the region attended the North East’s first-ever developer event held by global giant Google, as part of a new partnership to help build the region’s tech sector further.

The Google Developer Group (GDG) DevFest was held in Newcastle, as the latest in a series of events around the world to help build tech communities and promote learning around Google’s technologies.

The North East’s first DevFest, held at TusPark Newcastle Eagle Lab, came in recognition of the region’s increasing status as a tech centre and home to increasing levels of high-growth and high-potential startup businesses.

The event – the result of a partnership between Google, TusPark Newcastle Eagle Lab and Barclays – is the latest regional-first event to be held at the co-working space, which has established itself at the forefront of the region’s efforts to elevate the North East onto a global scale. Previously, it has hosted several delegations from China in their first visits to the region, helping to build and strengthen ties between the two.


TusPark Newcastle Eagle Lab, on Newcastle’s Grainger Street, has already enabled the expansion of nine IoT businesses into China, and is working with many more to support their scaleup and development.

The DevFest saw presentations and sessions from an array of leading speakers, including Alessandro Palmieri, a community manager from Google, who visited Newcastle from London especially for the DevFest.

Noa Havazelet, Regional Lead UKI, Developer Ecosystem, Google, said: “DevFests are places for developers of all backgrounds to come together and exchange ideas, network and learn about the latest technologies. The North East of England is an important technology hub and GDG Cloud Newcastle is playing a major role in creating an active and inclusive tech ecosystem with events like DevFest.

“I would like to thank the organisers and supporter organisations, TusPark and Barclays, for making this happen. It was great to work with them for this event and I am looking forward to further collaborations next year.”

Colin Tan, director of TusPark Newcastle Eagle Lab, said: “We are very excited to have been able to work in partnership with Google to bring GDG DevFest to Newcastle, in what was the first event of its kind in the North East. It was a superb event, and something Newcastle can be proud to have been chosen as the destination for.

“As part of our commitment to supporting our businesses within our co-working space and the North East tech community, we are delighted to have been able to offer this latest very important event.”

As well as hosting significant regional tech events, TusPark Newcastle also provides co-working space and free hot desking in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.