IBM, Monday unveiled USD$200 million investment in the new global headquarters for its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) business in Munich.
The company said the move is to cater for the growing demand for the service which now boasts over 6,000 Watson IoT clients, up from 4,000 just 8 months ago. The plan is also to bring new IoT capabilities around Blockchain and security.
These clients are using Watson IoT technologies to draw insights from billions of sensors embedded in machines, cars, drones, ball bearings, pieces of equipment and even hospitals. IBM is already working with some leading enterprises, including Schaeffler, a German automotive and industrial supplier and Aerialtronics, a Netherlands-based designer and producer of unmanned aircraft systems.
IBM said that the Watson IoT headquarters will be home to the first ever cognitive IoT Collaboratories – hands-on industry labs where clients and partners can work together with IBM’s 1,000 Munich-based researchers, engineers, developers and business experts to drive collaborative innovation in the automotive, electronics, manufacturing, healthcare and insurance industries.
Harriet Green, Global Head of IBM’s Watson IoT business
IBM is making tremendous strides to ensure that businesses around the world are able to take advantage of this incredible period of technological transformation and develop new products and services that really change people’s lives. Germany is at the forefront of the Industry 4.0 initiative and by inviting our clients and partners to join us in Munich, we are opening up our talent and technologies to help deliver on the promise of IoT and establishing a global hotbed for collaborative innovation.
