“LiveLabs Urban Lifestyle Innovation Platform“ (LiveLabs) and “SmartHub“ are two complementary innovation platforms in consumer and social analytics that will strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Research & Development (R&D).
LiveLabs director, SMU Associate Professor Archan Misra (3rd from right) explaining to Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean (2nd from left) how location and context data would be collected from consumers’ mobile devices. Looking on were SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer (1st from left); StarHub CEO Neil Montefiore (2nd from right); and LiveLabs director, SMU Assistant Professor Rajesh Balan (1st from right).
These two National Research Foundation (NRF)-supported innovation platforms will provide city-scale test-beds where home-grown and global players can jointly develop, test and launch their IDM-based products and services, not just for Singapore, but for the region.
“Through the launch of LiveLabs, SMU hopes to help businesses, particularly those in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors, gather useful, context-based consumer and social insights based on the behavioural patterns of real-world users. This will enable participating companies in Singapore to tap high-value opportunities,” said SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer.
With an investment of some $50 million, the two innovation platforms are expected to help speed up the commercialisation process of R&D, increase the quality and quantity of IDM innovations, help businesses gain useful insights into consumer behaviours, as well as catalyse more collaborations between the academia, industry and public-sector organisations in developing IDM innovation.
Together, the launch of SMU’s “LiveLabs“ and StarHub’s “SmartHub“ will help to sharpen the competitive edge of Singapore companies and position Singapore strongly and favourably as a regional hub for consumer and social analytics.
Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister for Home Affairs and Chairman of National Research Foundation (NRF), Mr Teo Chee Hean graced the “LiveAnalytics@SG: Launch of LiveLabs & SmartHub” event held at SMU as the Guest-of-Honour.
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The initiative is also designed to catalyse the development of interactive digital content for TVs in Singapore, and support new interactive digital media (IDM) R&D projects as well as the commercialization efforts of IDM applications and services.
