New tech center for Seoul

The Korean government and U.S.-based IBM Corp. will open a joint technology research and development center in Seoul in December. The Ministry of Information and Communication said yesterday it had signed a contract with IBM for a 50-50 joint investment in the IBM Ubiquitous Computing Laboratory. Ubiquitous computing is the technology of placing computer chips on household objects, including home appliances and furniture, to enable users to get information through a computer network throughout the physical environment. The Institute of Information Technology Assessment, which is part of the information ministry, and IBM will invest $16 million each in the first project over the next four years. Ten fellows from the Watson Research Center at IBM’s headquarters, 25 fellows from the laboratory of IBM Korea and 70 new research fellows will work at the new Ubiquitous Computing Laboratory, which will be located in Dogok-dong, southern Seoul.