IDF 2007: Intel invests to support emerging innovation

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Intel used the precursory day of its Intel Developer Forum (IDF) event in San Francisco this week to reaffirm its commitment to giving a helping hand to innovative established companies and start-ups in emerging markets, with China and India being top priorities.

But, despite beefing up its focus on the countries it feels have great potential, it isn't about to start lessening its commitment to stimulating and supporting innovation in the UK, US and other more developed countries, according to Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital.

"Our vision of the future will have great emphasis on emerging markets and enhancing innovation, technology deployment and entrepreneurship throughout the world. As we invest in various parts of the world as a consequence technology deployments, technology penetration and venture capital (VC) penetration increases in those countries, which is very valuable," he said.

"We expect the focus on emerging markets to be very dramatic because there is a lot of growth there... China and India are the two most important countries [in this category] as they are growing the fastest in the world...but that's not to say we're taking our eye of the ball from developed countries."

Between January and June this year, Intel Capital invested $236.1 million ($118 million) in some 87 deals around the world, with 62 per cent of this cash injection directed outside the US.

China is worth much more than other countries in Intel's international portfolio, closely followed by Taiwan, according to a chart displayed by Sodhani. Interestingly, considering Intel has cited China and India as the most important targets for investment going forward, the UK still had a slight edge over the latter in terms total dollar value of its international portfolio as of June this year.

In addition to directing financial resources towards established companies in need of a monetary boost or those trying to move out of the incubation stage, Intel also hosts a number of events aimed at helping them to network.

One of the companies to benefit from Intel cash told IT PRO that it found these co-called Intel Capital Technology Days (ICTS) particularly useful in giving it a foot up the ladder to attract corporate as well as consumer business.

"We work with big clients like Boeing, Proctor & Gamble and Intel itself. A lot of these large companies are comfortable with Intel but they don't know us. Intel provides the bridge," said Christopher Alden, chairman and chief executive of blogging software and services firm Six Apart.

"Over the last couple of years we haven't moved away from consumers but we have been able to broaden our focus towards the enterprise and Intel's investment has been very useful there."

Sodhani concluded his presentation with a nod to the company's plans to top its investment so far. "We want to get more deals done and want to deploy more dollars and want to do that globally. Our goal is to be the pre-eminent global investment organisation in the world," he said.

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