The Virtual Technology Cluster Group is intending to target retail and the Internet of Things for its next wave of virtual clusters connecting SMEs with corporates.
The Deloitte Healthcare Virtual Technology Cluster is the second such partnership after VTC鈥檚 pilot centre, the Lockheed Martin UK Virtual Technology Cluster – now known as the Leidos VTC – which focused on cyber security.
VTC Group CEO Auriol Stevens told 老九品茶Cloud that it is eyeing the opening of 鈥渇ive or six clusters鈥� in the future.
鈥淲e want to target other verticals, such as retail,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are also focusing on the IoT, specifically areas such as critical infrastructure.鈥�
VTC is paid by sponsors such as global professional services firm Deloitte to run the clusters, which help multinationals attract emerging and disruptive innovators.
Successful members range from university projects through to start-ups, SMEs and public companies, with opportunities for commercial partnerships or investment.
These have access to 鈥渟cale-up support and commercial mentoring鈥� and do not have to pay membership fees, while no money is taken from the smaller firm鈥檚 bottom line.
鈥淭here is no easy mechanism for SMEs to get into the supply chain of a corporate without annoying them,鈥� Stevens explained.
鈥淲e get a finder鈥檚 fee if the match proves to be a success. We鈥檙e not a charity: we connect companies with an eye on revenue.
鈥淗owever we won鈥檛 connect them if we don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 an appropriate match鈥� it comes down to whether they want to disrupt or be disrupted.
鈥淭he question we ask is: can we solve an existing problem for these companies? Provide them with a solution? And can the SME perform the contract?
鈥淪ome of the companies are post-revenue, some are very early tech.鈥�
The VTC Group, based on Regent Street, London, supports regular events to connect businesses but does not run them directly.
Virtual Technology Cluster (VTC) members & discuss managing information flows today
鈥� Leidos (@LeidosInc)
The second VTC aims to advance the digitisation of healthcare through the adoption of innovative technologies.
鈥淭here is no particular bias as to whether the healthcare companies are from the UK or US,鈥� added Auriol. 鈥淚t depends on what the sponsor is looking for.
鈥淏y design, healthcare does not have any geographic constraints.”