Designed to support developers throughout their mobile app development journey, the DIGIX Lab is also accessible online. (Photo: Mark Cheong, The Straits Times)

Huawei, a GeoWorks GeoPartner, has launched a S$53 million regional centre – DIGIX Lab – in Changi Business Park, Singapore. The lab, the first in the Asia Pacific region, is aimed at empowering the region’s mobile app developers and partners.

“The new DIGIX Lab in Singapore serves as an all-encompassing innovation hub that provides developers in the region with the tools they need to succeed. With Singapore as a flourishing hub in Asia Pacific, Huawei will continue to strengthen our collaboration with local partners and institutions to cultivate and nurture a resilient, evolving pool of tech talents. As we celebrate our 20^th anniversary in Singapore, Huawei strives to build a robust mobile ecosystem to bring apps of the future to life,” said Nicholas Ma, CEO of Huawei International.

Aside from the lab, Huawei has announced that it will continue its work with partners to bring more local apps onboard its AppGallery which presently carries apps including Singapore’s OneMap, TraceTogether and ComfortDelGro. SingPass, the Singapore Government’s e-services app will be available this year. There was a 143% growth in the number of newly registered Huawei Developers in Singapore last year. More than 90% of top Singapore apps have integrated with HMS Core, Huawei’s mobile service framework, and have onboarded to its AppGallery.

Last year, Huawei teamed up with several local institutions of higher learning and industry partners including Republic Polytechnic and Singapore University of Social Sciences to drive tech innovation. Plans for this year include developer community programmes in APAC, developer training and certifications. It will also work with SkillsFuture Singapore and provide training courses and certificates on Android app development and HMS Core. The Chinese tech giant is also in talks with the Singapore Gaming Association to form a partnership in developing the local mobile gaming industry.

Huawei Mobile Services has also launched its HUAWEI Developers app for developers to manage their apps’ backend system. “In the era of 5G, Huawei aims to build a ‘1+8+N’ all-scenario mobile ecosystem with HMS that empower developers to innovate as they build their business. The DIGIX Lab provides a platform to cultivate and equip developers with the necessary app development tools to innovate and advance the future of the digital space,” said Shan Xuefeng, Director of Asia Pacific Huawei Consumer Cloud Service.

Huawei is also an ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2021 partner.

• https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/huawei-launches-us40m-regional-centre-in-spore-to-support-app-development-for-its