Neil Hughes
Apple is on the verge of announcing a 'cutting-edge' new research and development center located in Japan, the nation's prime minister revealed on Tuesday.
Apple has yet to confirm the comments from Japan Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, which were made in a campaign speech outside of Tokyo, according to Reuters. The government official said that the new R&D center will be on par with existing Apple facilities in Asia.
According to the prime minister, the research facility "will be formally announced soon." Details on what exactly Apple might use its expanded presence for in Japan remain unknown.
As Apple's profits have grown, so too have the company's expenses on R&D. In the last quarter alone, the iPhone maker sunk a record $1.68 billion into research and development, totaling $6 billion in the company's fiscal year 2014.
"The Company continues to believe that focused investments in R&D are critical to its future growth and competition in the marketplace and are directly related to timely development of new and enhanced products that are central to the Company's core business strategy," Apple said in a 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "As such, the Company expects to make further investments in R&D to remain competitive."
Apple has been expanding its R&D presence globally in recent months, with news leaking in November that the company plans to open a new R&D facility in Cambridge, U.K. It is expected to join a new location in Shanghai, as well as two offices in Israel.
Though Apple is usually tight-lipped about future product plans, the company did tip its hand on an entirely new product category last month, revealing the forthcoming Apple Watch. Final specifications and details on the Apple Watch remain unknown, because the wrist-worn device remains in development ahead of an early 2015 launch.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
39 Comments
Probably a wise move since China is so IP-hostile it makes new product development and introductions a near impossibility. At least Japan can respect Apple's privacy (although I shouldn't speak too soon)...
Probably a wise move since China is so IP-hostile it makes new product development and introductions a near impossibility. At least Japan can respect Apple's privacy (although I shouldn't speak too soon)...
No, you're right. Besides, the Japanese still have significant engineering talent. And they've been hurt by Chinese and Korean IP theft.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/183799/apple-to-build-major-new-r-d-facility-in-japan-prime-minister-reveals#post_2649472"] No, you're right. Besides, the Japanese still have significant engineering talent. And they've been hurt by Chinese and Korean IP theft. [/quote] Possibly with Japan's new economic troubles it becomes more sensible to move some manufacturing there as well. It would be nice for Apple to break their over reliance on China and Korea.
Assuming this is true what is Apple going to do besides confirming its existence? No way is Apple going to say what the facility is for, especially if it involves future stuff being cooked up in the labs.
[quote name="Rogifan" url="/t/183799/apple-to-build-major-new-r-d-facility-in-japan-prime-minister-reveals#post_2649476"]Assuming this is true what is Apple going to do besides confirming its existence? No way is Apple going to say what the facility is for, especially if it involves future stuff being cooked up in the labs.[/quote] They would have no reason to reveal anything about this development.