NEC Solutions Asia Pacific (NECSAP) has chosen Singapore as the regional launching pad for its RFID (radio frequency identification) solutions and services business expansion in Southeast Asia.
It will invest $5 million over the next two years to set up an RFID centre, known as RFID@NEC. This is the first RFID centre set up by NEC outside of Japan.
The centre will offer the first Electronic Product Code, or EPC network service in the region, according to Chan Yeng Kit, chief executive officer, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). "Companies in the region will be able to make use of this service to exchange valuable product and shipment information using information captured via RFID," said Chan.
Located at Republic Polytechnic (RP), RFID@NEC will also offer NEC"s customers a comprehensive suite of RFID solutions and services. "The centre will be NEC"s vehicle for generating new RFID applications and Intellectual Property (IP) to solve practical everyday problems for our target markets in Southeast Asia," said Vikram Mengi, director, RFID Solutions and Services of NECSAP.
"RFID@NEC will drive adoption in Singapore by providing easier means for testing the feasibility of concepts. The centre will also provide end-user compliance testing services in line with EPC-Global"s standards and set up EPC Information Network to allow users across the supply chain to share information."
"Building a ubiquitous society through technology has always been the heart of NEC"s mission and RFID is one of the core technologies contributing to the realisation of the ubiquitous society," said Akinobu Kanasugi, president of NEC. "Although still in its infancy stage, NEC has achieved significant successes in many RFID trials and early implementations around the world."
Over the years NEC has developed technical competence as well as implementation know-how in this area and has successfully developed and deployed RFID-based solutions in manufacturing, retail, logistics and security applications. "RFID@NEC is part of our company"s strategy to bring this expertise to Southeast Asia. The centre will be NEC"s vehicle for localising its RFID solutions and subsequent diffusion to the region through our network of regional offices," said Tomohiro Yagi, CEO of NECSAP.
Located at Phoenix Park, RFID@NEC is a one-stop facility offering solutions and services to NEC"s regional customers and partners.
"The launch of NEC RFID Centre at Republic Polytechnic marks the expansion of our collaboration in creating synergy between the IT and educational sectors," said Yagi. "This joint initiative with Republic Polytechnic is an expansion of our current partnership with RP. In our pilot project with Republic Polytechnic in 2003, we supported RP"s industrial enrichment programme for their teaching staff by allowing them access to our biometrics expertise and facilities. We are pleased to work with RP again in applied R&D for RFID solutions as their real-life approach to research and unique problem-based learning environment runs parallel to NEC"s focus on providing innovative technological solutions to challenges in our daily lives."