IBM to open its first innovation center in RP

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine unit of IBM will open its first Innovation Center in the country – and the second in Asia – at the UP-Ayala Techno Park in Quezon City. Although the company refused to disclose the project’s actual amount, the center will focus on developing open-source and Web 2.0 solutions geared towards helping the Philippines move up the BPO chain. The Philippines “has a big pool of developers who can create applications and solutions that will allow people and corporations to collaborate and gain access to technology," Janet Klein, director for developer relations at IBM Asia Pacific, said during a small media gathering. The laboratory is also intended to give students, particularly those interested in BPO or services industry, a clear roadmap to develop their skills, Klein said. Klein’s point person in Southeast and South Asia, Charles Manuel, said the facility is intended to become a “hub of activity" for students, professional developers, and partner organizations." “This is the right time for these investments," said Manuel, adding that the Innovation Center is likely to serve the needs of the country’s burgeoning BPO industry. Noting that the laboratory is located within the vicinity of a university, the executives said the investment is in line with the BPO-centric curriculum that IBM has been pushing in the academic sector. Dubbed as SSME or Services Science Management Engineering, the course is currently being piloted in a few academic institutions such as the St. Louis University in Baguio City. Unlike existing engineering courses that were crafted decades ago, SSME is focused on developing the skills required in a services-led economy as it bring together ongoing work in computer science, operations research, industrial engineering, business strategy, management sciences, social and cognitive sciences, and legal sciences. - GMANews.TV