Motorola eyes Belt and Road tie-ups

The Belt and Road Initiative has brought tremendous opportunities for technology company Motorola Solutions Inc, the head of its mainland operations says.

Motorola Solutions (China) Chairman and President Michael Jiang, who attended the recent Critical Communications World summit in Hong Kong, says his company has already operated in some Belt and Road economies.

He says he believes that Motorola's critical communications technology and equipment could be utilized - together with mainland companies - in areas ranging from transportation, public security and hotels to nuclear power and forestry.

Jiang says Motorola Solutions was among the first overseas companies to set up an office on the Chinese mainland in 1987. He says the critical communications field has developed rapidly on the mainland, especially in the past five years, to reach international standards.

The current wave of technology and innovation on the mainland stimulates consumer demand, which is beneficial to Motorola's business, Jiang says. He says he believes the company's technology systems will not easily be replaced in the short term.

Jiang adds that Motorola would like to conduct mergers and acquisitions if there are appropriate companies and projects on the mainland.

Motorola Solutions Inc is the US data communications and telecommunications equipment provider that succeeded Motorola Inc, after the spinoff of the mobile phone division into Motorola Mobility in 2011.

Since Motorola split its mobility and solutions business, the company has focused purely on so-called critical communications.

According to its chief technology officer Paul Steinberg, last year Motorola Solutions invested more than $500 million in research and development. He adds that Motorola Venture Capital - the venture capital firm and investment arm of Motorola Solutions - concentrates on cutting-edge innovation and makes investments in companies innovating in areas the US group has prioritized.

Steinberg says investing in partner firms lets the company innovate more quickly than it can if it takes on projects itself. He says Motorola Venture Capital typically makes strategic investments, involving acquiring stakes of less than 20 percent of the share capital and taking a seat on the board.

The venture capital firm has already invested in more than 200 companies and currently holds 16 in its portfolio. Steinberg says the company is increasingly looking at software, analytics and artificial intelligence to develop communication and networking.

"In the past years, we have become more centered on technologies such as artificial intelligence," he says.

tingduan@chinadailyhk.com

(China Daily European Weekly 05/26/2017 page28)