EDINBURGH has been ranked fourth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the “normal” technology cluster category by a survey, highlighting the Scottish capital’s international prowess in this key sector.

The survey, by property consultancy CBRE, defines “normal” cluster cities as having between 20,000 and 50,000 people in high-tech jobs, and a greater percentage of employment in the sector than the European Union average.

Edinburgh is placed behind Oslo, Basel and Hamburg in this category, but ahead of Geneva, Nuremberg, Tallinn, and Utrecht.

In terms of scale clusters, with high-tech employment of more than 70,000, London is placed first in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). It is followed by Madrid, then Dublin, Budapest and Paris.

Angela Lowe, senior director at CBRE in Edinburgh, said: “Normal clusters are typically smaller capital cities supported by universities producing a high standard of tech graduates. With its financial services sector, reputable universities, and Scotland’s devolved government, Edinburgh ranks highly in this category.”

CBRE declared that cities in the “normal” cluster category tended to be “those where costs are lower than cities in the same or neighbouring countries, and where companies often chose to locate a second tech centre, or centre of excellence”.

It added: “In doing so, they can make themselves an employer of choice, rather than competing with others for the same talent.”

Richard Holberton, head of EMEA occupier research, said: “Talent perspectives are changing, with millennial workers accustomed to taking risks and often not aspiring to work for large brands.

“Start-ups – where they can take ownership of a product or activity – is where they turn to for advancement. Analysis of the characteristics of tech labour markets should be integral to location decisions, and many smaller but fast-growing cities in the EMEA region offer favourable possibilities.”

Ms Lowe said: “A fast-growing and dynamic group of industries based around a complex system of locational clusters with diverse characteristics, the tech sector is key in many office markets, including Edinburgh. CBRE’s latest research provides...valuable insight into trends.”