SINGAPORE, Feb 10, 2014 (Menafn - Marketwired via COMTEX) --Konica Minolta, Inc. launched its new Asia Pacific BusinessInnovation Centre (BIC) in Singapore today.
The centre in Singapore is one of the five BICs the Company plans toestablish around the world to facilitate and accelerate the growth ofits Information and Communications Technology (ICT) servicesbusiness. The function of the BIC is to initiate, support and managenew business and technology development, as well as to incubate newICT service businesses for Konica Minolta. The BIC will manage theentire lifecycle of service development and incubation activities,from ideation, proof-of-concepts and pilot programs to businessdevelopment and actual business deployment activities.
Using the open service innovation concept, the BIC in Singapore willbe working with customers and collaboration partners ranging fromsolution providers, start-ups, research institutions, as well ascrowdsourcing channels to develop and incubate new services for theAsia Pacific region. The centre is currently in close discussionswith Singapore's Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), a member ofthe Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) family oncollaboration opportunities.
The BIC's activities will complement Konica Minolta's Research andDevelopment (R&D) in the creation of new service businesses. KonicaMinolta currently has R&D centres in Japan and USA, focusing onfields of imaging, optics, materials and nano-fabrication to createnew values to the existing business fields of business technologies,healthcare, measuring instruments, and industrial materials.
"The decision to locate the Asia Pacific BIC in Singapore underscoresKonica Minolta's confidence in Singapore as an attractive hub forAsia Pacific regional innovation activities. Singapore's centrallocation in one of the world's most dynamic, high-growth regions,combined with its vibrant innovation community, strong infrastructureand support network, make it an ideal choice to locate our AsiaPacific innovation centre," said Mr Yuji Ichimura, General Manager,ICT Service Business Operations, Konica Minolta, Inc.
Applauding the move, Mr Terence Gan, Director of Electronics at theSingapore Economic Development Board (EDB) said, "We are glad thatKonica Minolta has chosen Singapore to locate its Asia Pacific BIC,the company's first in the world. This is a good example of howglobal companies like Konica Minolta find value in our ICTcapabilities to co-innovate and develop cloud-based solutions thatcan be scaled and exported globally. Through collaborations with ourlocal research institutions and solution providers, we are confidentthat Konica Minolta will benefit from the multi-disciplinary R&Dcapabilities Singapore has to offer."
"In the initial phase, the Asia Pacific BIC will be focusing ondevelopment of cloud-based service offerings such assoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) and business process-as-a-service(BPaaS) to add to Konica Minolta's Intelligent Office serviceoffering. The centre will also be working closely with customers todevelop industry-specific cloud-based solutions. By providing theservices through the Konica Minolta cloud infrastructure, KonicaMinolta will deliver the economies of scale, savings and agility tothe customers," said Ms Rachel Goh, Director, Business InnovationCentre, Asia Pacific, Konica Minolta, Inc.
To mark the announcement of Konica Minolta Asia Pacific BIC, thecompany is initiating an Ideation Challenge to crowdsource ideas.Interested parties can refer to the following website for details:
https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9933521
Company logo:
http://release.media-outreach....ease.php/Images/1128
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia Konica Minolta BusinessSolutions, a leading company in advanced document managementtechnologies and Managed IT Services for the desktop to the printshop, brings together unparalleled advances in security, printquality and network integration via its award-winning line ofbizhub(R) multi-function products (MFPs); bizhub PRESS(R) and bizhubPRO(R) production print systems; magicolor(R) color printers; andpagepro(R) monochrome printers. Konica Minolta also offers softwaresolutions and optimised print services to reduce document outputcost, improve productivity and optimise office environment, backed byimpeccable service and support team.
Konica Minolta adopts a proactive effort in reducing globalenvironmental impact through its green product lifecycle.
In line with its core message "Giving Shape to Ideas," Konica Minoltaendeavours to respond to its customers' needs across the world withrelentless creativity, innovation and advance technology.
Konica Minolta is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings,Inc. bizhub is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta BusinessTechnologies, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this documentare the property of their respective owners.
Konica Minolta, the logo, and other trademarks are trademarks ofKonica Minolta and may not be used without permission.
CONTACTS:
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd.
Celine Long
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SOURCE: Konica Minolta, Inc