In partnership with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), German industrial gases group Linde has launched its Asia Pacific Digitalization Hub, a strategic initiative to rapidly identify, develop and trial emergent digital technologies for industrial applications in the region and beyond.

Linde and the EDB plan to invest over 30 million Singapore dollars (US $22.6 million) in the hub, which the German group said is designed to expand its digital capabilities and further extend its lead in the digital transformation of the gases and engineering industries, thus improving safety and process efficiency.

At the Asian hub, which builds on the success of the Digital Accelerator at Linde’s Munich headquarters, the Singapore corporate digitalization teams will work alongside engineers and business line managers on projects and technology trials throughout the region. Though the hub will be decentralized to better take advantage of the diversity and opportunities in the region, Singapore will serve as a nexus.

“Digitalization is central to our global strategy for growth and provides opportunities for Linde to differentiate by delivering better solutions and convenience for our customers,” said CEO Aldo Belloni. Executive board member, Sanjiv Lamba, added that the hub “will be able to capitalize on the tremendous innovation coming out of the region.”

Globally, Linde has already implemented numerous digital innovations, including augmented reality (AR) tools to help customers visualize application technology deployments, along with  virtual reality (VR) simulators for training and remote support, noted Philipp Karmires, head of digitalization at the Munich group. 

In Asia Pacific, Linde has already established Remote Operations Centers in Shanghai, China, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, combining artificial intelligence (AI) with big data from extensive sensor networks to remotely operate more than 200 plants across 14 different countries, thereby optimizing production and energy usage.