International Business Machines (IBM) to open lab ? CEO Magazine

International Business Machines (IBM), the US $230 bn American Information Technology (IT) and Software Company is to build its first research laboratory on the ?African continent ?in Kenya, a country whose economy stands at US $34bn. The new research centre project announced last week, is a joint venture between the government of Kenyas` ICT Board and IBM, with each contributing US $10 million of funding over the next five years. The choice of Kenya (which aims to be an IT hub in Africa) by IBM did not come by accident, as the country has been an incubator for software development and has plans to build its own Silicon Valley, called Konza, a 5,000 acre site which will eventually be a cluster of technology companies plus a university. Kenya is also a global leader in mobile money, with its award winning MPESA service. The IBM?s Kenya laboratory will seek to develop technology assisted solutions to the problems of Africa?s fast growing cities.

Africa has 52 cities of more than a million people each, more than are in Europe. In addition, it will be the center for a ?resident scientist programme,? which will bring in researchers from Nairobi and elsewhere in Africa to collaborate with IBM scientists. Lab location decisions are based mainly on the lure of ?smart people and real world problems and opportunities,? said John E. Kelly, IBM?s senior vice president for research. International Business Machines (IBMs) ?has an annual research budget of US $6.5 bn and ?runs similar research facilities in 11 other countries, but this is the first in Africa.

Source: http://www.theceomagazine-ug.com/news/international-business-machines-ibm-to-open-lab.html

douglas fir jim boeheim jim boeheim bill of rights toys r us toys r us shame