So, technology is something that really makes us feel like we are in the future. And while you may think of a futuristic society with futuristic cars and drones and flying machines, it’s important to remember there are many countries where our technological development feels very backwards. One particular country in which this can be seen is Scotland. The UK has some brilliant technologies even despite being one of Europe's least developed and most ‘dense’ countries. There have been several advances over the years, but let’s focus on just a few of these that show how well developed we are as a region. First of all, it’s the high level of connectivity we have, thanks to the internet being a vital part of everyday life. Even if you were to live elsewhere, the amount of data we can collect means that if you need help or information you now reach out for help within 12 hours rather than months. A massive improvement on other European regions with such high levels of connectivity. Second thing is how connected the Scottish nation is to other nations across the world, both countries and continents. We’re able to connect to each other via 4G and LTE wireless carriers, meaning that if you are anywhere else outside the country then all the communications will go through us. Another point worth noting is that much of the nation’s infrastructure is made up of public sector infrastructure, making it possible for businesses, schools, hospitals and more to take full advantage of the state's resources. Next up, let me tell you about a truly amazing example I can think of from Glasgow, Scotland. What started off as a simple phone call between two friends in 1958 soon turned into something so large that eventually led to the creation of what became called "the world's largest privately owned and operated mobile network." This huge network consisted of around 300 million subscribers and was also capable of providing faster Internet speeds and mobile access to users at home and abroad. Thanks to its popularity however it became fairly easy to get lost, with GPS systems still being used even though the internet did not exist yet. In the late 1970s, another innovation came along and helped make up for loss of the service. Mobile phones could use satellite radio stations to receive voice calls or text messages. Since then this has become quite standard, allowing people around the globe to have access to better internet speeds and support for their social media needs without having to rely on their mobile provider or mobile coverage. Finally, let's look at where Scotland currently stands. It is relatively rich in regards to technology, thanks to its geography. Due to its location Scotland is extremely close to Europe, so for many years it had an almost equal chance of becoming involved with new developments and changes in comparison with some other parts of the globe. As time has gone on however we see a shift towards areas such as London or New York. Now, with the way things around the world are changing, much less attention is given to rural areas, meaning even fewer places are considered for investment. That is why Scotland is a great place to be if you want to be a tech giant, as you can always find yourself surrounded by big businesses willing to hire anyone who has the talent to work on any project you have, in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Here's a quick summary on my top ten countries in terms of technology.

1. United States

The US is probably the biggest economy on earth, accounting for roughly 20% of global GDP and having the highest levels of economic growth in the world. Being the main superpower the US is constantly looking to improve upon its technology and making improvements to services being offered. With the right policies and legislation in place, it's likely to continue doing this, giving us a lot more access to modern services, such as advanced internet speed and broadband access.

2. Brazil

Brazil has the second highest number of computers in the world, only behind China with a population of 120 million. The country’s government is attempting keep the average person under the age of 25 online within 40%, and with the rate of advancement of technology Brazil is certainly no exception to this rule. They have done this by building bridges so they can link every city in Latin America to the rest of Brazil via fibre optics. This allows Brazil to have a constant connection with the rest of the continent, so that if you happen to be in New York and want to download anything your computer should be ready for you in minutes, without ever leaving the house. Also using Google Maps will allow you to check the latest updates on the location of wherever you are so you don't need to worry about getting lost! Just saying.

3. South Korea

South Korea is a fast growing country, but there are still faults to be worked out. From everything from the issues it faces with hackers, to not having enough power to fully develop the technology needed to make progress; South Korea still hasn’t advanced as quickly as the US and Europe do. Having a smaller population makes South Korea lag behind in terms of technology, and this is definitely evident in the fact that we have only a handful of megacentres dedicated to developing certain fields of technology. In general though South Korea has achieved its goal of being recognised as a leader by the field of Information Technology. While South Korea does not have mass scale solutions, they can be found in pretty small ways such as cloud computing, IoT devices, etc. But when you see South Korea it becomes clear that it is due to the sheer size of the population. South Korea seems to be developing the same kind of technology as the U.S. especially by looking to produce smart cities and helping train individuals interested in becoming IT professionals.

4. Germany

Germany is often considered the “Silicon Valley" of Europe, meaning the nation has access to cutting edge technology as opposed to other Eastern Germany countries. Not only do they have a solid manufacturing base, and their research and production are some of the best of around the globe, they have nearly 10 times as many engineers as compared to the EU. On top of that, since the industry is still being managed by German companies, you can expect them to remain competitive in the field. With Germany having a population of 83.5 million, it gives the country a good deal of power, but is still unable to compete with the West at large. Compared to UK, Germany is still a little lower in terms of technology, but also it has a larger economy. You get lots of students who are trained in STEM subjects because the nation also has a university system, which isn’t too bad when considering the country’s student population is smaller than other European Countries. If you look back at the past couple of centuries, Germany will continue to grow and maintain itself as the leading engineering powerhouse in the world. As of 2020, you can expect to find some of the worlds best universities offering courses in Berlin, Munich, Darmstadt, Hamburg, Tuttlingen, Leipzig, Paderborn, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. These universities will also provide a wide range of jobs to those seeking work in the medical, finance, IT, healthcare and aerospace industries, as well as job opportunities in other sectors within the industry.

5. Italy

Italy is probably known for being a centre of science and technology. But Italy also boasts a wealth of cultural heritage and history, as well as a deep well of natural beauty. Though it should be noted that Italy’s rich culture was a contributing factor to this. Much of Italy today’s landscape is mostly mountainous land with olive trees, mountains and greenery surrounding the area. Though the terrain today makes it hard for drivers on roads, they are beginning to understand Italy’s natural beauty thanks to newer techniques and innovations. For instance, Uber has already used drone taxis throughout Rome, Milan and Turin, enabling passengers to easily travel in luxury without having to worry about traffic jams. Similarly, Tesla offers self-driving vehicles, and a self-charging electric car for rent. All three giants in this space were able to achieve this with ease, proving once more the benefits technological advancements can bring to people. To complement these two tech giants, Italian airline EasyJet is investing in 5,000 seats to enable customers to fly without worrying about poor weather. However, before the company begins operating its first passenger flight again, an update will be required, making it unlikely this will ever operate again in full capacity.

6. Spain

Spain is well known to most for having incredibly high amounts of sea. Whilst it is far from the best sea in Europe however it remains a vast source of raw energy for the nation, thanks to La Palma Island. This island is the home to around 2.5 billion barrels of oil. Because of this, Spain has been able to diversify its exports and now imports some 90% of its food in an effort to reduce costs. Along with the vast amount of agriculture that goes on here, Spain also has some stunning beaches and landscapes, with many parks that will soon come to be filled with tourists. Plus its proximity to Europe is also a great boost to tourism. Whether you like the beach life of Barcelona, or going surfing in Mallorca, there are plenty of options to choose from to suit everyone. Despite the Spanish being an agricultural nation Spain is still working to increase its industrial capability so that they can produce more products, including machinery, consumer goods and even military equipment.

7. Greece

Greece has a few achievements in the digital space, however most people will know about it from watching the recent HBO series 'Game Of Thrones'. Greece has taken steps to improve itself so that it can attract new investments and foreign aid whilst maintaining the quality that it provides for its citizens. This includes promoting entrepreneurship through tax breaks and incentives for start ups, creating more open and accessible education programs, improving the country's health care coverage and expanding to new markets in Asia, Africa and North