As well as incredible examples of entrepreneurship and innovation, it's worth remembering that the US Government was the first customer of both SpaceX and Palantir ( and in Palantir's case, one of the first investors too ). Both have been hugely positive for the US economy and their geopolitical position.
There will be many positive announcements this week from my colleagues at DSIT on backing British AI start-ups, so it's worth remembering the size of the prize if we get it right.
Government procurement isn't about picking winners, but supporting innovation and providing better public services. But back when SpaceX and Palantir were starting up and getting US Govt support - the UK couldn't have procured from a local start-up ( EU frameworks would have prevented them ) and even if we wanted too, the Govt didn't prioritise working with new technologies - but went with 'safe bets' with legacy companies for institutions like the NHS and Post Office....look where that got us.
Thankfully, if belatedly, with the introduction of the BBB, NSSIF & the Procurement Act under the Conservatives, and expansion of the BBB and set-up of SovAI under this Government, I'm much more positive about our ability to start and scale similarly important, international winners going forward.