The electronics giant TCL Corp, has set up a research and development centre in Poland with a main focus on artificial intelligence research, as part of its plan to expand across Europe.
"The Research & Development centre will mainly focus on AI-related sectors such as computer vision, natural language processing and big data analysis, as well as carry out cooperation with both Warsaw University of Technology and University of Warsaw to introduce pioneering scientific research talent and strengthen the application of technical achievements in related industries", explained Bartosz Biskupski, general manager of TCL's European Research & Development centre.
"We plan to recruit about 100 to 150 employees for the Research & Development centre within the next two or three years, and utilise the Research & Development resources not only in Poland, but also in Eastern Europe," said Yan Xiaolin, chief technology officer of TCL.
The centre will specialise in three sectors: AI and big data, next-generation semiconductor display technology and new material. The centre will also address intelligent manufacturing and the industrial internet, adding it is of strategic significance in TCL's global expansion and will further enhance TCL's capacity in technology innovation.
Currently, TCL has approximately 8,000 technical research staff, 26 Research & Development centres and more than 10 joint laboratories around the world. Expenditure on Research & Development reached 4.72 billion yuan ($691 million) in 2017, according to the company.
Apart from the European Research & Development centre, the home appliance giant has set up a research institute in Silicon Valley in the United States, and Research & Development centres in Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. It has partnered with other tech giants such as Google Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Baidu Inc in the field of AI.
In 2017, TCL shipped 23.8 million television, an increase of 15.9 percent year-on-year. It ranked among the top three brands in the global LCD television market, with a market share of 10.9 percent in 2017.
Dong Min, general manager at Beijing consultancy All View Cloud, or AVC, said "TCL has put an emphasis on the European market, and it is necessary to establish an Research & Development centre and manufacturing bases in overseas markets to boost local sales."