Microsoft sets its sights on Internet of Things growth in Asia with Taiwan launch
Microsoft has launched its first Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation Center in Taiwan, a statement of intent that it views Asia to be a key growth area for its IoT products and services.
Microsoft launches first IoT hub in Asia
The company announced the news this month alongside the Taiwan government and local partners.
Microsoft said the hub will act as a ‘federated lab’, with developments made in Asia being fed directly into its business in the US, impacting global IoT product development.
Chris Phillips, general manager of partner and customer ecosystem, Cloud Enterprise Microsoft, said: “Microsoft IoT Innovation Center in Taiwan is our starting point for capturing the booming IoT opportunity in Asia by accelerating the collaboration between Taiwan-based companies and global partners so as to push forward IoT as services.”
It announced the new deal at an event in Taiwan in which IoT innovations from Asian companies were presented. At the event was a smart vending machine developed by Aaeon that allowed visitors to pay by swiping their badges and a coffee-making robot developed by Techman Robot.
Many Asian governments are fighting to attract big businesses to set up shops, particularly in order to claim the moniker of being an innovation hub. Singapore has been very active in attracting agencies to set up hubs around data and innovation, including Dentsu and Group M.