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Google to open R&D centre in Singapore

Enthusiast [PersonRank 0]

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
17 years ago2,732 views

Article in Singapore's Straits Times (http://0rz.com/?u2Ovw):

Google to open R&D centre in Singapore

By Tham Yuen-C


NETIZENS around the world may soon get to use Google products developed in Singapore, with the Internet giant's move to set up a research and development (R&D) centre here.

The move by the industry giant and household name is a coup for Singapore, which is branding itself as the region's technology hub.

The centre – Google's first in South-east Asia – signals its foray into tailoring its search engines and advertisements for the region.

Although it is tight-lipped about details, it is already on the hunt for engineers to start things rolling. In particular, it needs an R&D director to head its operations.

The company, which recently topped a Fortune magazine list of the top 100 companies to work for in the United States, does not stint when it comes to research.

Last year, for example, it spent US$1.2 billion (S$1.8 billion) on R&D.

Although Google's products range from e-mail to online office applications, 70 per cent of the company's R&D efforts are directed at improving its key search product and search-generated ads.

For example, it is constantly trying to improve the matching of search terms to relevant advertisers.

Its R&D centres outside of the US typically focus on adapting its products for those local markets, but are also involved in developing new offerings and fine-tuning existing ones.

Of its eight R&D centres around the world, three are in Asia – in China, India and Japan.

In Japan, for example, engineers work on adapting the search algorithms for use with the Japanese language, so that the lack of spaces between words can be accommodated.

Mr Richard Kimber, Google's managing director of sales and operations in South-east Asia, said Singapore was picked for its 'very vibrant ICT space'. ICT stands for infocommunications and technology.

Google was also drawn to Singapore because of the Government's active promotion of technology, he added.

The Government has already put in place moves to protect intellectual property, and built Singapore's Internet infrastructure up with a $100 million wireless broadband network.

Earlier this month, Google confirmed that it would be opening a sales office here to beef up its online advertising services to local advertisers and those in the region.

Mr Kimber said Google sees Singapore as a key player in online advertising, and has already started establishing partnerships with companies here.

yuenc[put at-character here]sph.com.sg

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Thoughts?

[Name and title reversed – Tony]

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Eh eh eh, Eric Schmidt and is crew said they will open R&D Center in France, in Spain, in Romania, etc etc etc... We're still waiting for that. Don't be so happy.

Ionut Alex. Chitu [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

He really said that?

TOMHTML [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

Romania or Bulgaria? Errr, but for as long as I can remember, he said that just after his visit in France, in June 2006.

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

17 years ago #

> Its R&D centres outside of the US typically focus
> on adapting its products for those local markets, but
> are also involved in developing new offerings and
> fine-tuning existing ones.

Sounds more like C&M – clone, localize and market.

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