A new 'big data' map offering insights on Cambridge's fastest growing companies has launched, aiming to make it easier to do business in the area.

The Cambridge Cluster Map, a not-for-profit initiative, provides extensive data on more than 1,500 companies in the area, with combined revenues of over £11.8bn and employing more than 50,000 people.

Launched as part of Silicon Valley Comes to the UK (SVC2UK), the Cambridge Cluster Map has been spearheaded by a group of business leaders - including SVC2UK co-creators, angel investor Sherry Coutu and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. Nesta is a founding partner in the project, along with the University of Cambridge, Trampoline Systems - the Cambridge spin-out behind the innovative map platform - and others (for a full list of partners, see the box at the side).

The map draws on a rich array of data, from sources and partners such as company database Duedil, professional social network LinkedIn and local business groups. However, while extensive data points are crunched in the back-end, the interface is simple and user-friendly - companies are pinpointed on the map, with symbols and colours depicting size, sector and other details.

Users can also filter companies by sector, revenue, employees and spin-outs, or discover the 50 fastest growing companies by turnover or staff - helping them to identify break-out success stories, see who's on the management team of a company (and how they're connected through their own network), compare how different sectors are performing, and more.

It's hoped the map will become a useful resource for investors, job-hunters, journalists, potential business partners and more, fuelling business in the area, as well as showcasing the region's economic contribution and standing as an enterprise hub.

Charles Armstrong, CEO of Trampoline Systems, said: "The global competitiveness of a cluster increasingly rests on the quality of data available to internal and external stakeholders. With its wide range of source data and real-time analysis, [the Cambridge Cluster Map] sets the bar to which all other cities must now aspire. The project provides a unique demonstration of how big data can help an entire community to prosper."

To find out more, visit the Cambridge Cluster Map.