Dell Ventures, the strategic investment arm of computer manufacturer Dell, will enter the Chinese market as part of a $125bn investment plan announced by its parent company today.
Dell plans to invest the cash in China over the next five years as part of an initiative that will also involve it establish a research and development centre to explore ‘end-to-end solutions’ for the Chinese market, and forming the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing Joint-Lab with Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Investing out of a $300m fund launched in 2013, Dell Ventures focuses on companies developing technology in the storage, cloud computing, big data, data centre, mobility and security sectors.
The unit has not revealed any precise plans for China, only stating that it intends to support Chinese IT technology entrepreneurs. There are no China-based companies currently in its portfolio, according to its website.
The “In China, For China” programme also includes a strategic collaboration deal Dell recently signed with Kingsoft Cloud, a subsidiary of China-based cybersecurity software producer Kingsoft.
Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell, said: “China and the United States are among the countries where the information industry is developing the fastest, resulting in the most vibrant enterprises.
“The internet is the new engine for China’s future economic growth and has unlimited potential. Being an innovative and efficient technology company, Dell will embrace the principle of ‘In China, for China’ and closely integrate Dell China strategies with national policies in order to support Chinese technological innovation, economic development and industrial transformation.”