Intel launches sustainable research centre in London

Computing giant Intel has joined forces with two London universities to launch a new global centre for research to address the environmental, economic and social challenges of city life.


The Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities will work with the Institute Imperial College London and University College London to become Intel’s first research and development (R&D) centre and global hub dedicated to exploring how technology can support and sustain the social and economic development of cities worldwide.

It will also collaborate with the new UK tech hub in east London to use the expertise of tech start-ups to identify and analyse emerging trends within cities in a bid to develop solutions to issues ranging from water scarcity to energy wastage.

It is anticipated that London will be used as a test bed for researchers to explore technologies to make cities more aware by using real-time user and city infrastructure data, which can then be introduced to other countries.

Speaking at Intel’s launch event at No 10, the chancellor George Osborne, said: “We are determined to make the UK the best place to do business in the world and a great place for technology companies to invest and build new business. It is encouraging to see major tech partners like Intel investing in this country as a result of the policies that the Government has put in place.”

Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner said that the centre was developed in response to predicted population growth.

He said: “In 2050, most of the nine billion people in the world will live in cities. Therefore, the demands of cities will be highly representative of the demands of humanity.

“Addressing these demands will be at the heart of the Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities, driving the development of new services to enhance people’s quality of life.”

Carys Matthews

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