Sun Microsystems Plans to Begin Research, Development in Beijing
March 20, 2001
Tech Center
Sun Microsystems Plans to Begin Research, Development in Beijing
By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter
HONG KONG -- Seeking to boost its profile in the Chinese market -- and benefit from highly skilled local staff -- Sun Microsystems Inc. intends to announce plans to build a research and development center in Beijing.
Although the size of the investment wasn't disclosed, Patricia Sueltz, a California-based executive vice president of the company's software-systems division, said the center will employ "a couple of hundred" locally trained engineers. They will develop hardware and software products, particularly in the area of wireless technology and large-scale system de sign.
"China is about to explode in wireless," said Ms. Sueltz, adding that the company expects "fabulous" growth in the country in the next 20 years.
Many foreign high-tech firms have established technical centers in China, in part to bolster their standing with the Chinese authorities, who place high importance on promoting technology transfer from abroad and on training local talent.
For Sun, forging into the Chinese market represents an important strategic initiative, providing the company with knowledge about deploying wireless technology that it can apply in other emerging markets. The company is in the midst of a global drive to make its network-oriented software and equipment as ubiquitous for a new era of Internet-enabled mobile wireless devices as it is for today's fixed-line Internet.
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