Cisco is expanding the Cisco CREATE programme with the opening of a new centre for collaborative research and emerging technology.

Housed at Hackney Community College, the centre will bring together start-ups and industry experts to develop technology solutions for sectors including energy, transport, healthcare and education.

The facility will host "/Dev/Innovate", an innovation pod aiming to enable technical experimentation by providing access to demonstrations and early releases from Cisco’s portfolio.

Cisco CREATE is part of Cisco’s global network comprising seven Internet of Everything (IoE) Innovation Centres. Currently facilities exist in Barcelona, Berlin, London, Rio de Janeiro, Songdo, Tokyo and Toronto.

"Digitisation poses a tremendous opportunity for the UK – from connecting transport networks, to the prospect that it holds for efficiency in our healthcare system. The connectivity of people, processes, data and things has the potential to transform industries, but no single organisation alone will be able to realise the opportunity," said Phil Smith, Chief Executive, Cisco UK & Ireland.

"Cisco CREATE and our innovation programme are built on principles of partnership, open innovation and an ecosystem which empowers others to innovate. We’re extremely proud of what Cisco CREATE has achieved, which is why we are delighted to be announcing the trebling of the programme at our new facility in Hackney."