Seiko to establish R&D centre in Singapore

Precision engineering company Seiko Instruments will be establishing an R&D centre in Singapore in April to bolster its storage and microelectronics offerings.

Seiko said that the new centre would begin as a representative office at Singapore's Biopolis research complex, but would expand to take in 10 to 20 employees by 2010. Its primary purpose will be to nurture partnerships with local institutes under the Singapore government's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR).

The company has already signed an agreement with the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics on the joint development of next-generation packaging and sensor products as well as a three-year pact with ASTAR's Data Storage Institute to research hard disc technologies.

Other areas of initial focus for the centre include production process innovation and computer-assisted engineering, and Seiko eventually hopes to expand R&D to include biotechnology equipment research.

The results of its collaborations with the Singapore government will be transformed into "new businesses and new products by utilising Seiko Instruments Singapore and other production plants in neighbouring countries," the company added in a statement.

- Jonathan Hopfner
EE Times