AsianScientist (Jan. 24, 2017) – Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and EZ-Link, Singapore’s largest issuer of Contactless e-Purse Application (CEPAS) compliant cards, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and boost Singapore’s smart computing and data-driven capabilities.
The collaboration between the three organizations will bolster the University’s data science curriculum and pave the way for a pilot data analytics project with EZ-Link. It will also help build local IT skillsets, meet enterprise demands and support the research and development of advanced technologies in the Big Data era.
“By leveraging the expertise of academia, the government and enterprises, we intend to raise the bar in nurturing talent, business and communities to reach new frontiers of the digital economy,” said Mr. Ethan Yu, Vice President of Alibaba Group and General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Global.
Alibaba Cloud will contribute US$500,000 in cloud credits towards the use of its cloud platform and data centers for academic and research purposes. IT experts from Alibaba Cloud will also offer hands-on lessons on the use of Alibaba Cloud’s platform for NUS staff and students.
In addition, Alibaba Cloud and NUS will collaborate in the areas of cloud computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and interactive digital media, as well as identifying opportunities for joint research projects and information exchange.
“The partnership with Alibaba Cloud and EZ-Link further demonstrates the close collaboration between academia and industry in solving real-world problems, and will help contribute towards a future, cashless Singapore,” said Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS Deputy President (Research & Technology).
The collaboration provides a platform for all three organizations to work collectively on harnessing data and translating it into ready-to-implement solutions which will positively impact Singaporeans and businesses. Alibaba Cloud and NUS are currently working with EZ-Link to analyze card usage patterns across the EZ-Link card schemes, service touch points, and customer segments to improve customer experience and create better services via real-time insights.
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Source: National University of Singapore; Photo: Shutterstock.
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