Jersey must invest in technology and skills if it is to continue to compete in a rapidly changing global environment.
Speakers highlighted the risk of complacency at this year’s Digital Jersey Annual Review.
Held last week (5th February), the sold-out event saw the team at Digital Jersey reflect on the organisation’s achievements in 2025, including growing the size of its small business and enterprise membership to more than 220 (doubled in five years), supporting the relocation of twelve tech businesses and hosting courses for more than 900 local people, while also pointing to its priorities for the year ahead.
In particular, CEO Tony Moretta reinforced the emphasis it will place on accelerating AI adoption as part of its 2026 plans, with the launch of a number of new initiatives including an intensive AI Leadership programme, a series of AI Insight sessions and forming partnerships with global AI companies to benefit Jersey start and scale-ups. This builds on the recent publication of the ‘AI Playbook for Jersey’ and launch of the Jersey AI Council, as well as holding a successful AI Hackathon.
The importance of AI was echoed in a keynote speech by AI influencer Katie King who argued that, in a rapidly changing world, AI represented a major economic and cultural shift that could not be ignored. Warning against complacency, she told attendees that AI was not just about helping the tech sector to thrive, but about helping all sectors to be successful, stressing that trust in Jersey as a business hub could help it be successful in the AI space.
In addition, local economist James Linder provided the initial findings of an analysis of the size of the digital sector in Jersey, and the value it adds in relation to three ‘Ps’: Population and Jersey’s ageing demographic; Public sector growth; and Productivity slowdown. The analysis showed that Jersey had seen tech intensive jobs grow by some 31% over the past ten years to now account for more than 7% of the total workforce, with salaries being 35% higher than the economy average.
However, the analysis also showed underinvestment in innovation, with Jersey spending only 1.1% of GDP on economic development compared to the UK’s 3.9%. That, the analysis argued, indicated that a shift was required towards more targeted spending in innovation and skills development, accompanied by a clear strategy to ensure maximum impact for islanders.
Other key areas of focus for Digital Jersey in 2026 include:
- Supporting growth in the local digital industry, including through opening up international connections to help local digital businesses succeed in wider markets
- Upskilling the workforce to ensure they are future-ready, including evolving STEM pathways to digital roles for students, and through the STEM Racing initiative
- Providing a platform to support local entrepreneurs to start and scale their ventures, including a new five-day Accelerator programme
- Driving inward investment, attracting businesses to the island particularly in the AI and fintech spaces and championing Jersey as a sandbox destination
- Funding innovation, including through the Impact Jersey programme – which has approved funding of almost £3m over the past two years – aimed at accelerating digital adoption in key strategic areas
Commenting after the event, Tony Moretta (pictured), CEO, Digital Jersey, said: “We’ve always tried to be a change agent at Digital Jersey, to raise awareness of important technology related developments and drive adoption and diffusion across the economy. When we look back over the past decade, it’s clear that we’ve achieved a lot in that regard, from championing fintech and regtech, helping to articulate a Digital Health Strategy, developing an AgriTech roadmap, creating a Digital Skills Strategy and designing Impact Jersey.
“I’m convinced that AI is the next big area of change and focusing on AI now is absolutely key to our future economy – for growth, for jobs, for productivity and for competitiveness. It’s a massive opportunity, but it’s also a threat and it’s important, particularly in an election year for our island, that we are not complacent and that we get this right. That’s why over the course of 2026 we’ll be championing the importance of investing strategically in AI, focusing on upskilling islanders in AI, and rolling out a number of AI-focused initiatives to help organisations accelerate their AI adoption.”
