The National Virtual Incubator (NVI) is a pioneering government supported initiative created to support and encourage wider collaboration between entrepreneurs and technology start-ups, by connecting existing innovation centers and start-up entrepreneurs from around the UK.
A key component of the initiative is to provide innovators and entrepreneurs from around the UK with greater access to expertise, mentorship, customer introductions, funding and skills, regardless of their physical location, through Cisco collaborative technologies.
Members of the NVI access the initiative through their local innovation centre, which we call an NVI node. There are several NVI nodes located through the UK, covering the South to the North of England. These nodes consist of a range of technology focused innovation centres from around the UK and collectively support over 400 start-up and SME businesses.
Technology is making the world a smaller place, and the NVI allows innovators from across the UK to gather virtually as an online community. By removing geographical restrictions, access to innovation has now become easier – regardless of location.