Samsung Investing $1.1 Billion Into New Worldwide Innovation Centers

This afternoon, Samsung has announced plans to throw down a large amount of capital into SSIC, the new Samsung Strategy Innovation Center. The amount of cash that Samsung is looking to invest is a whopping $1.1 billion, with $100 million of that going towards the Samsung Catalyst Fund. According to Samsung, these innovation centers with will largely focus on R&D for, “cloud infrastructure, mobile privacy, Internet of Things, human interface, and mobile health.” 

What this has to do with Android and the future of Samsung’s cellphones, we have yet to see. But with Android’s largest manufacturer spending this much on research into making better cloud systems and phones, this is only good news in our books. Until we start seeing some of the goodies coming out of these research centers, we will just speculate and dream of the phones that we will likely see in the next few years.

MENLO PARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital convergence technologies and advanced semiconductor solutions, today introduced its vision for a global engine to accelerate innovation and to drive new business creation for Samsung’s Device Solutions businesses. The new Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center (SSIC), new $100 million Samsung Catalyst Fund, $1 billion Samsung Ventures America Fund, and Samsung’s international R&D centers create a powerful platform for igniting global innovation. Samsung Electronics will leverage these organizations in global innovation hotspots to create new businesses and build open ecosystems through research and development, investments, strategic alliances, and M&A.

“We see tremendous opportunities and transformations over the next five years driven by Big Data centered around mobility, cloud, and the Internet of Things, and Samsung will be a significant part of this revolution”

The new Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center headquartered on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park and with offices in Korea and Israel is led by Young Sohn, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics. “We see tremendous opportunities and transformations over the next five years driven by Big Data centered around mobility, cloud, and the Internet of Things, and Samsung will be a significant part of this revolution,” said Sohn. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to engage with entrepreneurs and innovators and empower them to leverage Samsung’s technology and global brand presence to bring our collective visions to market.”

This new model creates a mutually beneficial foundation for Samsung and innovators to explore new opportunities and drive future growth related to Samsung’s components businesses. Initial focus areas include cloud infrastructure, mobile privacy, Internet of Things, human interface, and mobile health. Entrepreneurs and innovators will gain access to Samsung’s unique ecosystem and resources including:

Strategy and technology mentorship from SSIC Innovation and Technology Fellows, along with other industry experts within Samsung R&D centers, to advance their developments and businesses

Samsung’s global technology and product platforms, and opportunities to partner with Samsung’s Device Solutions business units and Samsung’s international R&D centers for product development, go-to-market strategies, and channel development. The early-stage $100 million Samsung Catalyst Fund focused on components and subsystems together with the $1 billion Samsung Ventures America Fund, to fuel innovative technologies and business models through all stages of business

Strategic alliance and merger and acquisition opportunities throughout Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions businesses

SamsungCreate Challenge

To jumpstart the $100 million Samsung Catalyst Fund, SSIC is holding a competition, SamsungCreate Challenge, launching later in 2013. The program will encourage artists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and other innovators to leverage Samsung’s Device Solutions Architecture Platform. Aimed at identifying and nurturing visionaries seeking to use technology to improve our lives, the contest will award $10 million in seed investments for winners and will also include incubation and support from SSIC’s Innovation and Technology Fellows and partnerships with Samsung R&D technologists. Additional details on the SamsungCreate Challenge will be announced at a later date.