EDB to Support GroupM’s set up of a Global Data & Analytics R&D Hub in Singapore with Emphasis on New Data Science Products and Technologies
SINGAPORE – GroupM announced the launch of a new R&D partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business center. The three year plan will support the set-up of a global R&D team in the Singapore market with a focus on developing new data science technologies that extend GroupM’s leading position in media investment management.
With today’s partnership, GroupM gains a valuable advantage in attracting the most astute and promising minds to our Singapore R&D operations while advancing Singapore as a world center for the development of the industry’s most advanced media products.
Under the terms of the development plan, GroupM will increase the number of PhDs in data sciences and analytics it hires for its Singapore operations, as well as expand its relationship with the country’s advanced science and technology institutions, through a strategic investment by EDB. The collaboration will enhance Singapore’s position in attracting the world’s most talented data scientists through new jobs in the Singapore market. Against a backdrop of fierce global competition for these experts, the partnership will further support Singapore as a key destination for data science and analytics professionals, providing skilled candidates with industry-leading opportunities to develop their careers as part of GroupM.
“The rapid worldwide growth of data-driven advertising has driven a corresponding, and massive, demand for PhD level data scientists to design and implement these next generation media technologies,” said Harvey Goldhersz, chief data officer and CEO of GroupM Analytics. “With today’s partnership, GroupM gains a valuable advantage in attracting the most astute and promising minds to our Singapore R&D operations while advancing Singapore as a world center for the development of the industry’s most advanced media products.”
The agreement is unique in the media industry, recognizing GroupM’s preeminence in the data and analytics areas and providing an increased number of data-science jobs in Singapore outside of the academic realm. GroupM’s R&D operations will leverage Singapore’s infrastructure and talent pool to provide professionals with favorable conditions in which to develop their careers.
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) has been working closely with the industry to build up a comprehensive ecosystem as part of its vision for Singapore to become a regional digital marketing hub. Mr. Kelvin Wong, Assistant Managing Director of Singapore Economic Development Board says, “We welcome the establishment of GroupM R&D in Singapore, and the transformative effect it will have on how brandowners plan and buy media. It will also create opportunities for analytics talent to work in the exciting and fast-moving space of media investment management, and contribute to EDB’s goal of developing 2,500 analytics professionals in Singapore by 2017.”
Firmly reinforcing its position as a hub where talent is harnessed and developed to drive success in Asia, Singapore is home to a strong base of qualified talent with academic backgrounds along with a well-developed technology infrastructure.
About GroupM
GroupM is the leading global media investment management operation. It serves as the parent company to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom and Maxus, as well as Xaxis and Catalyst. Our primary purpose is to maximize the performance of WPP’s media communications agencies on behalf of our clients, our stakeholders and our people by operating as a parent and collaborator in performance-enhancing activities such as trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, proprietary tool development and other business-critical capabilities. The agencies that comprise GroupM are all global operations in their own right with leading market positions. The focus of GroupM is the intelligent application of physical and intellectual scale to benefit trading, innovation, and new communication services, to bring competitive advantage to our clients and our companies. Discover more about us online at www.groupm.com.
