This KPMG survey identifies DC as a top tech innovation hub

Many global cities want to be named the next tech innovation hub. But who’s really in the running?

It’s a question on which there are myriad perspectives and theories — the latest taking the form of a survey by professional service company KPMG. The company recently released part one of it’s yearly technology industry innovation survey (now in its fifth year) — a survey of over 800 “global technology industry leaders” in which KPMG asks about the changing landscape of tech. Part one the survey explores “the rise of new ecosystems of incubators, accelerators, and venture capital alongside government incentives across the world.”

In other words, which cities have the potential to be the next Silicon Valley?

In the survey, KPMG asked its 800 respondents the following question: “In addition to Silicon Valley/San Francisco, which three cities around the world will be seen as a leading technology innovation hub over the next four years?”

And wouldn’t ya know it, D.C. made the list.

In fact, D.C. tied for spot six (with Berlin and Chicago) on the top 10 list. The first five spots are taken (in order) by Shanghai, New York, Tokyo Beijing and London. The list is then rounded out by Tel Aviv and Boston.

Now, to be clear, this is just a perception thing and not an indication of D.C.’s place as an actual top 10 global innovation hub (though go ahead and make that argument — defining what it means to be a “global innovation hub” isn’t straightforward).

Still, for a city that struggles (sometimes more than others) with being seen as more than a merely federal government town, it’s a nice ego boost.