KPMG backs Leeds as emerging tech hub
KPMG has continued its investment in Leeds as a national technology hub after becoming a founding member of The Open Data Institute – Leeds City Region Node.
Based in Munro House in the city centre, ODI-Leeds is one of 23 global ODI Nodes. It was the first to be established in the UK with a dedicated physical presence outside of London in May this year.
The ODI, founded by professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt and professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan company. The London-based organisation was established to catalyse the evolution of open data culture to create economic, environmental, and social value.
The organisation was established to help the public and private sector make the most of Open Government Data that is now accessible. Open data is data that is made available by organisations, businesses and individuals for anyone to access, use and share.
KPMG’s founding membership will see it working with ODI-Leeds on open data and open innovation culture, developing and delivering projects and supporting start ups that evolve from the business eco-system.
The membership comes after the firm recently launched its national Innovation and Solutions Centre at Broadgate in Leeds. The 28,500 sq ft site will enable KPMG to share technology insights and trial new solutions with, and on behalf of, clients.
Ian Brotherton, director at KPMG in Leeds, said: “Leeds is emerging as one of the UK’s leading ‘smart cities’ and has built a formidable market position in data and healthcare. With the support of the ODI, Leeds will reinforce its claim as a leading hub for technology in the North. We look forward to working with ODI to help organisations from across the private and public landscape to collaborate and capitalise on the opportunities that open data has to offer.”
Paul Connell, founding partner, Actuated Futures & ODI-Leeds, said: “It is great to have KPMG on board and receive recognition from one of the leading names in professional services. The firm already has an outstanding reputation for its expertise supporting the technology sector, which will be fundamental to the development of the ODI node in Leeds and the success of the community we are developing.”
