IBM will open its first global Wireless Center of Excellence, a multi-million dollar investment, in the Research Triangle Park to advance the use of wireless technologies in applications ranging from offices to warehouses.
IBM made the announcement as part of the celebration of its 40th Anniversary in Research Triangle Park. With employees, state and local government officials, retirees and young students in attendance, the company also announced plans to donate two houses to Habitat for Humanity in Wake County, and has signed the first North Carolina-based companies for its World Community Grid project.
"Today is an opportunity to reflect on our roots in RTP, as well as our continued investment in our site and the local community," said Rusine Mitchell-Sinclair, senior state executive, IBM. "The opening of our new Wireless Center of Excellence and support of local charitable agencies and the World Community Grid, show the innovation and compassion that helps make IBM in RTP the company's largest site worldwide."
At the ceremony, IBM unveiled its plans to open the Wireless Center of Excellence in early October. The facility will mimic a variety of workplace environments, like loading docks and conveyor belts in warehouses to demonstrate how wireless technology, specifically Radio Frequency Identification, works. This will allow IBM clients from around the world to better understand the technology and physics associated with radio waves by seeing how packages are scanned and contents are tracked to destinations all over the globe.
IBM also announced that two new North Carolina-based companies, the North Carolina Technology Association and Coast Federal Credit Union, have agreed to participate in the World Community Grid, which allows scientists to harness the power of individual computers during "down time" via the Internet. This allows scientists to work on large research projects, like developing new vaccines or modeling weather patterns to better predict catastrophic natural events.
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