In a bid to expand its operations in Greater China, tech-firm NCS has launched the NEXT Shenzhen Innovation Centre (SIC) to help enterprise clients accelerate digital transformation. Located in Tian’an Cloud Park in Shenzhen, it will develop 5G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) applications, digital twin and blockchain solutions. 

“The Shenzhen Innovation Centre underscores our commitment to help our clients in Asia Pacific transform by harnessing the best of digital innovation, especially in this post-Covid world,” notes NCS CEO Ng Kuo Pin at the launch event on 18 January. 

“It forms the perfect gateway for us to serve Singaporean clients who are looking to enter and expand into the Chinese market, and for our Chinese clients to venture into South-East Asia and the Asia Pacific region.”

A member of the Singtel Group, NCS prides itself as the “leading information, communications and technology (ICT) service provider” with a presence in the Asia Pacific region. It delivers end-to-end ICT solutions to help governments and enterprises realise business value through digital transformation.

SIC is housed in a 1,400 square metre space that includes a demonstration area, design thinking studio and digital factory. Clients can work with NCS’s team of resident experts to develop digital projects to improve business growth and performance. The hope is to cultivate a cross-border digital innovation ecosystem for NCS’s clients, partners and tech startups. 

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As one of the first of China’s Special Economic Zones, Shenzhen was a logical choice of location as it has grown into a global hub for innovation and investment. DBS - an anchor tenant at SIC - has indicated plans to testbed innovations using emerging technologies at the centre to improve cross-border collaboration, trade flows and workforce engagement.

SEE: Singtel Group member firm launches Shenzhen innovation center for Greater China expansion

“DBS is uniquely positioned to avail our deep digital and financial capabilities as well as regional insights to support companies on both sides of the border to grow their business as trade activity between Singapore and Shenzhen ramps up,” says Jimmy Ng, Group Chief Information Officer and Head of Group Technology & Operation at DBS. He sees SIC as an opportunity to augment technological resources and grow supply chains in the wake of Covid-19. 

NCS also seeks to use SIC as a platform to develop talent through job attachments and rotations. NCS will provide talent exchange opportunities for employees to work at the centre to cross-pollinate ideas and hone their cross-cultural skills by working abroad. Singapore and Shenzhen students will also be offered internships under the Singapore-China Youth Interns Exchange Scheme.

CEO Ng remarks, “The establishment of SIC also provides a growth platform for Singaporeans to gain wider exposure to the innovation landscape in China, providing opportunities for ICT students and professionals to collaborate on innovative projects in Shenzhen.”

SIC represents part of NCS’s wider regional ambitions under its NEXT Innovation Triangle. Under this initiative, clients can tap on the firm’s innovation capabilities in Singapore, Melbourne and Shenzhen to access “best-of-breed technologies, digital capabilities and deep-tech talent” across the region. 

“Building on our strength as Singapore’s leading ICT services provider, NCS has set our sights beyond Singapore and we aspire to be the digital catalyst of governments and enterprises across Asia Pacific,” Ng resolves.