NEC Corporation, together with NEC Asia Pacific, has opened NEC's first Advanced Centre for Experimentation (ACE) in Singapore.
The facility will serve as a living lab and will allow co-creation of innovative solutions in areas such as public safety, transportation, and healthcare.
The ACE will be operated by NEC Laboratories Singapore (NLS) and will leverage NEC's core technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and ICT platforms.
Currently with 33 researchers and solution engineers, the NLS eyes to hire additional 50 more professionals within the next three years. The operator will be particularly looking for those with specialization with AI, the Internet-of-Things, Cognition, and cyber security.
Singapore Economic Development Board Infocomms and Media Director Tung Meng Fai this will further contribute to the development of Singapore's research and development (R&D) talent pool.
"We are delighted that NEC has chosen to establish their ACE in Singapore. This investment by NEC is a strong testament to Singapore's talent pool and innovation capabilities to drive the digital transformation of industries. The ACE will enrich Singapore's digital ecosystem, and will foster new partnerships for the co-creation and commercialization of new solutions from Singapore," he said in a statement.
For NEC Corporation Senior Vice President Tetsuro Akagi, the establishment of ACE in Singapore is to boost their expansion to the Asia Pacific. He noted that it will be investing more than S$100 million in the region over the next five years.
"Leveraging NEC's technological innovation in AI and big data analytics, we hope to innovatively help governments and enterprises across the region in their digital transformation journey," Akagi stated.
Establish in 2013, NLS has been a known partner of various Singapore firms, contributing its expertise in the study of social concerns to pave way for business solutions.
To recall, NLS partnered with SMRT Buses. The bus transport firm partnered with NEC to launch Singapore's first telematics monitoring system. It has also partnered with the transport group for the development the Professional Learning and Training Management System.
