IBM Opens Up Research Lab in Brazil

IBM (News - Alert) is opening a new research laboratory in Brazil, citing the nation's strategic location, abundant natural resources and technical talent.

Lab personnel will begin operations immediately at existing IBM locations in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. IBM will work with the government to determine the future locations of IBM Research - Brazil.

IBM Research - Brazil is IBM's ninth global research lab. It also is IBM's first research lab in South America and the first new IBM Research lab in 12 years.

Over the next few years, the lab will grow to more than 100 researchers. The new lab will be integrated into IBM's worldwide research and development organization to enhance scientific discovery and apply the results to address the planet's biggest challenges.

'IBM Research addresses some of the most significant challenges of our time by discovering how science and technology can improve the way the world works,' said Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM senior vice president and director of IBM Research. 'Brazil's abundance of natural resources and technical talent presents unique research opportunities and the ability to deploy them to solve increasingly important problems. The new lab also gives IBM scientists the opportunity to extend their collaboration with universities, government organizations, and companies in Brazil and across Latin America.'

Research at the lab will focus on:

* Natural resource discovery, exploration and logistics, initially in the areas of oil and gas, and addressing the sustainability and safety of the resources industry.

* Devices that can be created using advances in semiconductors, aimed at solving the challenges of building a smarter planet. The lab will be a center of collaboration and innovation for Brazilian and global companies in the areas of development and deployment of these advances.

* Smarter human systems, with an emphasis on large-scale events. Researchers at the lab in Brazil will work to create and deploy innovations which will be used at the upcoming sporting events Brazil will host, including the Soccer World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016.

Over time, other areas of possible research at the lab could include smarter: transportation, healthcare, and agribusiness, as well as the required information technology - including supercomputing - that will support these industries. 

'The choice of Brazil for the newest IBM Research Lab is the reflection of the big growth opportunity we have seen here,' said Ricardo Pelegrini, general manager of IBM Brazil. 'IBM believes technology is an important tool to help the growth of the country and the development of our society. We are proud of seeing our company - in the year it will celebrate 93 years in Brazil - investing even more, creating opportunities and developing new technologies for the benefit of Brazil and of the world.'

IBM has initiatives around the world, and by teaming up with Hildebrand, IBM is also taking the plunge into the UK smart metering market with its data management software.