Saturday, April 19, 2008

Rohde & Schwarz Sets Up First Regional HQ In Singapore

Source : Channel NewsAsia, 18 April 2008

Broadcasting and radio communications firm Rohde & Schwarz has said Asia will be the source of technological innovations in the future, and that is why it has set up its first regional headquarters outside Germany in Singapore.

Research and development (R&D) will be the focus of Rohde & Schwarz's new regional headquarters in Changi Business Park. The communications firm said this is its largest investment outside of Germany.

Erich Freund, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Rohde & Schwarz, said: "There are more and more standards coming up from Asia. I think by the power of the economy, China is at the forefront - you see a lot of Chinese standards for broadcasting, in mobile radio...

"WiMax is very much driven by some Asian countries like Korea and Taiwan. We definitely will see a lot of new innovations coming from this region, and I think Singapore will have a strong standing in that."

Currently more than 30 percent of the company's turnover comes from Asia.

Rohde & Schwarz is looking to double its R&D staff in Singapore, now standing at 150. Local engineers they recruit will also have the chance to work in the firm's Munich operations.

Lim Boon Huat, Managing Director, Singapore, Rohde & Schwarz, said: "The people we are going to hire will be for new skill sets as well (as) new domain areas, and that will be exciting for Singapore, because it gives our people a chance to develop high-end technology.

"Rohde & Schwarz is a technology company and I see... the synergy between Germany and Singapore... and this is where a lot of things can flow, ideas can flow between both sides."

The company is offering two full scholarships to engineering students at the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to study at the Technical University of Munich next year. - CNA/ms

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