Hitachi, Ltd. and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business in the region through a Centre of Excellence (CoE), established in Hitachi Asia Ltd.’s Singapore headquarters on April 1, 2010. The CoE will develop advanced technology and solutions businesses related to the Social Innovation Business, such as smart grids, water treatment, security and urban transportation.

The CoE, established with the aim of providing a central base for leveraging the Hitachi Group’s collective strengths to address needs in the Social Innovation Business, spanning a broad range of fields, reports directly to the president of Hitachi Asia Ltd. The CoE will have a staff strength of around 20 employees.

Hitachi is bolstering its global development of Social Innovation Business, which has a strong track record and technological capabilities in advanced social infrastructure, supported by sophisticated information and communication technologies (ICT). Hitachi is expanding its urban planning and development business, energy-saving solutions business based on smart grids and other businesses in the Asian belt zone.