Whenever we hear about the latest greatest movements in technology, chances are that it will always be from a handful of countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea or Japan. What many don’t realise is that there is often an equal amount, albeit more low-key, coming from countries that are far less associated with technology.
Below are some of the countries around the world doing excellent work in technology but receiving a lot less fanfare for it.
Vietnam
For those from the global West, the first mental image that comes up when someone mentions Vietnam is anything but technological, and yet the Asian country has recently topped a list of the Financial Times’ emerging markets for technology. The tech world has pegged Vietnam as the new big innovation hub of the region and the government is pouring investment into the region.
The big names include Viettel, originally a telecom company but now also developing software related to both health care and education, as well as contributing to the construction of smart cities. They even became the sixth-largest provider of 5G connectivity in the world for a time.
Across the country, there is a major focus on the creation of solutions to be used within Vietnam first, such as the ride-hailing app Be which has been able to compete with foreign giants like Gojek. All of this is supported by local computer scientists regularly rated among the very best in the world.
Brazil
Much like Vietnam, much of the technology appearing from within Brazil is centred around the unique challenges faced by people living in the massive South American country. Most of Brazil’s top startup companies are focused on tech solutions, with the majority of those being within fintech. This is a case of necessity breeding innovation as many of the largest established foreign fintech companies have historically been unable to fully cater to Brazil’s complex financial system.
Solutions include platforms for banks catering exclusively to younger people as well as entirely independent lending companies that aim to improve financial understanding around the country. Other avenues of development include cybersecurity, transportation and a myriad of other home-built solutions to local problems.
South Africa
Another country not traditionally linked with high-tech solutions, South Africa can claim industries and businesses as cutting-edge as anyone else. The nation has a large presence in the world of online development, including several companies operating with blockchain technology, internet-of-things and online casino.
For the latter, an online casino South Africa like the local Yebo Casino boasts comprehensive game libraries, many slots of which are unique from anything found outside the country. There is an overall innovative streak to South Africa in general, and it is quickly gathering a reputation of being a global competitor in multiple industries.
A global market on the rise
For every country we’ve mentioned here, there are certainly several more waiting in the wings. The nature of technology and the Internet is that they act as level playing fields no matter where the businesses are based, so expect to see many more surprising names reach this list sooner rather than later.
