Professional services firm KPMG International has launched a virtual research and development centre called KPGM Insight Labs that will incubate data-driven startups for the clients of its member firms.
The company said KPGM Insight Labs is one of a series of steps it has recently taken to expand its data and analytics services portfolio, including the launch in 2013 of KPMG Capital, a corporate venturing fund intended to invest in data and analytics technology.
KPGM Insight Labs, which will have locations in the UK, the US and India, will also serve as a base for R&D for the businesses that have secured investment from KPMG Capital.
The Labs will initially prioritise testing for data and analysis businesses operating in the customer analytics, competitive positioning, regulatory compliance, telecommunications, healthcare and life sciences, retail and predictive modelling for the financial services industry.
“The Insights Labs are intended to fill a critical gap for clients,” said Mark Toon, CEO of KPMG Capital. “While companies are quickly pursuing strategies to capture and examine their data – the ‘big data’ chase – what we’re providing is an environment for putting data-driven solutions to the test.”