About a year ago, discussed that the reason why Microsoft innovates time and time again is because it invests heavily in its R&D teams. Microsoft had opened up an innovation center in Taiwan that focused on web-engineering and next-gen web applications. IBM is now mimicking this trend with the opening of its Global Rail Innovation Center in Beijing, China as reported in ProgessRailroading.com. The post discusses how the center will address
"...passenger reservations and service, asset utilization and productivity, track and infrastructure surveillance, scheduling, integrated fare management and environmentally efficient operations. The facility will be staffed by a global network of IBM rail consultants, software specialists, mathematicians and business partners."
What other big companies will we see move out to Asia to open up innovation centers? Google perhaps...