Newswise — The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (Fuji Xerox) will collaborate on research projects in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The projects aim to explore new technologies and push the boundaries in ICT to enable businesses to improve efficiency in workflow and processes.

Researchers from the School of Computing and the Interactive & Digital Media Institute (IDMI) at NUS and Fuji Xerox’s Incubation Center of Research and Technology Group in Japan will jointly conduct cutting-edge, use-inspired research in digital document and media management. These areas are in line with Fuji Xerox’s business focus and customer needs. The partnership was formalised in two research collaboration agreements which were signed in July and October 2013 respectively.

The joint research projects bring together a team of experts with a strong focus to develop both upstream and downstream research excellence in the multidisciplinary area of ICT. The researchers will work together on these key projects at laboratories in the School of Computing and IDMI. To date, Associate Professor Terence Sim and Associate Professor Roger Zimmermann, who hold joint appointments at the NUS School of Computing and IDMI, have initiated two projects on forward-looking trends in the area of moving documents and media through wireless networks. Their research teams work closely with their Fuji Xerox counterparts, Dr Roshan Thapliya, R&D Manager, and Mr Jun Shingu, Researcher at the Incubation Center of Research and Technology Group.

The recent emergence and widespread use of smartphones and tablet computers in office and industry environments have led to a dramatic shift in how workflows and processes are handled in organisations and corporations. As a result, digital media and documents must be accessible by employees quickly and efficiently at any time, both in the office and on-the-go. Fuji Xerox has developed an advanced end-to-end bandwidth estimation and allocation methodology that is designed to serve as a foundation for the adaptive delivery of digital media over wireless networks. Fuji Xerox and NUS researchers are working closely to leverage this base technology for future applications with an emphasis on a high quality of experience for the end user.

The collaboration also enables students from NUS School of Computing to participate in research internships with Fuji Xerox and gain valuable experience working in a corporate R&D setting. Currently, a postgraduate student from NUS is pursuing a research internship under the guidance of Dr Thapliya at Fuji Xerox R&D Square, its main research and development base in Yokohama.

In the long term, the joint projects will enable NUS and Singapore to continue attracting top research talent and global research partners in the field of digital document and media management. Fuji Xerox will also benefit from this collaboration by acquiring relevant technologies and tapping on NUS’ talents for further expansion of Fuji Xerox’s operations in the Asia Pacific region at the same time.

Said Professor David Rosenblum, Dean of the NUS School of Computing, “We are thrilled about this collaboration with Fuji Xerox. Partnerships with leading technology companies like Fuji Xerox serve an important role in our research mission, giving our faculty, students and researchers a keen understanding of cutting-edge problems as well as an outlet for achieving greater impact with their research. We look forward to achieving great things with Fuji Xerox in the coming years.”

Mr Hirotsugu Kashimura, Department Manager, Incubation Center of Fuji Xerox said, “We are happy to have established this collaboration and look forward to further strengthen this bond in the near future. We would also like to express our appreciation to NUS for providing a wonderful opportunity to interact with such talented faculty members and students. I clearly believe that this symbiotic relationship will yield a mutually beneficial result encompassing both technology and business.”