This is according to Google chairman Dr Eric Schmidt, who made his comments at the MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.
The UK needed to reignite children's passion for science, engineering and maths, he observed.
To this end, Dr Schmidt announced a partnership with the UK's National Film and TV School.
He told the audience of broadcasters and producers that while Britain had invented many items, they were no longer the world's leading exponents in these fields.
Dr Schmidt remarked: “"If I may be so impolite, your track record isn't great.
"The UK is home of so many media-related inventions. You invented photography. You invented TV. You invented computers in both concept and practice.
"It's not widely known, but the world's first office computer was built in 1951 by Lyons' chain of tea shops. Yet today, none of the world's leading exponents in these fields are from the UK."
Posted by Andre Dixon
