The Global Center of Competence (CoC) for City Management is responsible for designing, developing and implementing innovative urban technological solutions that can help cities to improve their local economy, environment and quality of life. The CoC technology portfolio covers the areas of Public Administration, Public Security, Public Mobility Management, and targets city authorities market worldwide.
Aligned to the Singapore Economic Board’s (EDB) new Future.Singapore initiative to make Singapore a test bed for products of the future, Siemens’ set up of the CoC has garnered strong support from EDB.
"The demand for urban solutions is expected to grow as municipal planners seek for optimal ways of managing challenges arising from urbanization, with IT as a key driver and enabler. We are delighted that Siemens is establishing its Center of Competence for City Management in Singapore to leverage on our capabilities in IT, e-governance and urban planning. The Center will build and strengthen Singapore’s competencies in developing knowledge and innovation intensive solutions that address the increasingly complex needs of cities worldwide," said Mr. Manohar Khiatani, Assistant Managing Director, Industry Development, Economic Development Board.
"Singapore’s conducive city environment provides an excellent test bed for companies exploring novel ideas, and Siemens’ Center of Competence will augment Singapore’s drive to establish itself as an early adopter of innovative urban solutions. We look forward to having more companies follow in Siemens’ footsteps to use Singapore as a test bed and launch pad for their products and services," he added.
"We are thankful to EDB for supporting us in setting up our Center of Competence here. We chose to establish the center in Singapore because the government has a comprehensive ICT strategy and the country is a model city and a leading business place in the world. We will be able to leverage on the country’s capabilities to develop innovative City Management solutions for cities of tomorrow,” said Mr. Klaus Heidinger, Head of Center of Competence for City Management, Siemens IT Solutions and Services.
The Center of Competence for City Management is also expecting to set up a City Management Solutions Center to showcase relevant innovative offerings. The Solutions Center is expected to be ready by end of this year. In addition, the CoC team will be present at the Siemens Booth P02 in World Cities Summit to be held in Singapore Suntec City Convention Center from June 23 through June 25, 2008.
This is Siemens’ first competence center focusing on City Management solutions. It is set up under the purview of Siemens IT Solutions and Services, a cross-sector division of Siemens AG. The center is also the first CoC for the Public Sector that Siemens IT Solutions and Services has located outside Europe.
Siemens IT Solutions and Services is an internationally leading provider of IT solutions and services. It covers the entire IT service chain from a single source, from consulting to system integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. In addition, Siemens IT Solutions and Services extends the range of offerings of the Siemens sectors to include software developments and IT solutions. With its comprehensive know-how and industry-specific knowledge, Siemens IT Solutions and Services provides measurable added value for its customers. The Siemens division employs around 43,000 people and posted annual sales of about 5.4 billion euros in fiscal year 2007, of which some 70 percent are generated outside of Siemens. More information at: www.siemens.com/it-solutions