Kantar Public, which is based in Berlin and Munich and has operated in Germany as a brand since 2016, will launch the hub in July to provide support for data, technology and artificial intelligence start-ups.

The hub will partner with start-ups on areas such as data analysis, insight and evidence, and has agreed a first partnership with Berlin-based data science and analytics start-up Inspirient.

Kantar Public’s investment strategy in Germany will also incorporate infrastructure and technology investments including Public Voice, a probabilistic digital panel for German policy makers.

Public Voice will also use Public Evidential, a technology platform that allows classical survey data to be blended with open government data.

Kantar public is also investing in its policy advisory capabilities in sustainability, policy evaluation and behavioural science, including new policy evaluation and beheavioural economics teams.

Ingo Schier, chief executive of Kantar Public Germany, said: “I joined Kantar Public because I wanted to be able to leverage my experience in a business that delivers for society.

“The pandemic has deepened this resolve and the triple investment strategy marries our client focus with our desire to maximise our wider societal impact.”