Computer manufacturer IBM is set to invest R700m ($60.1m) to build a research facility in South Africa that will support developers and startups.
The Research Africa Facility will be IBM’s second, after a Facility established in Kenya in 2013, and will be the company’s 12th international research laboratory. It is being set up with the help of South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry.
Based at University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the laboratory will focus on big data and mobile technology covering the healthcare, science and internet of things sectors.
IBM also expects the Facility to partner with startups, universities, research institutions, innovation centres and government agencies in fostering technology. It is slated to open in April this year.