英特尔决定关闭南韩研发中心
作者： DJN
责任编辑： 阚智
来源： 《电脑商情报》
时间： 2007-01-06 07:07
Intel Corp. has decided to close its only research-and-development center in South Korea as part of a company restructuring, government officials said Friday.
Intel's move cuts the number of foreign R&D centers in South Korea to 14, a spokesman at the Information and Communication Ministry said on condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy.
The South Korean government jointly operates the center with Intel, the spokesman said, adding that, despite Intel's decision, the government will continue its research.
The spokesman said research at the center located in Bundang, near Seoul, focused on digital technologies for the home and that Intel's corporate restructuring has affected that business sector, resulting in the closure.
In September, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel announced the elimination of 10,500 jobs - about 10% of its work force - through layoffs, attrition and the sale of underperforming business groups as part of a massive restructuring.
Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, expects the overhaul to save $3 billion per year by 2008 as the company fights to reverse sinking profits and regain market share lost to its nimble rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD).
Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman, declined to say how many employees worked at the South Korea research center, saying the company doesn't break out the number of job cuts per facility.
Mulloy said Intel remains committed to doing business in South Korea and that it still employs hundreds of other workers in the country in marketing, sales and customer support.
"It's no reflection on our commitment to Korea and no reflection on the capability of the technology sector in Korea," Mulloy said. "We continue to be committed. But this was a business decision related to Intel's specific needs and business requirements."
Besides Intel, South Korea has attracted R&D centers from global companies such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) since 2004 as part of its efforts make the country a hub of research and development in Northeast Asia.
Intel's move cuts the number of foreign R&D centers in South Korea to 14, a spokesman at the Information and Communication Ministry said on condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy.
The South Korean government jointly operates the center with Intel, the spokesman said, adding that, despite Intel's decision, the government will continue its research.
The spokesman said research at the center located in Bundang, near Seoul, focused on digital technologies for the home and that Intel's corporate restructuring has affected that business sector, resulting in the closure.
In September, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel announced the elimination of 10,500 jobs - about 10% of its work force - through layoffs, attrition and the sale of underperforming business groups as part of a massive restructuring.
Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, expects the overhaul to save $3 billion per year by 2008 as the company fights to reverse sinking profits and regain market share lost to its nimble rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD).
Chuck Mulloy, an Intel spokesman, declined to say how many employees worked at the South Korea research center, saying the company doesn't break out the number of job cuts per facility.
Mulloy said Intel remains committed to doing business in South Korea and that it still employs hundreds of other workers in the country in marketing, sales and customer support.
"It's no reflection on our commitment to Korea and no reflection on the capability of the technology sector in Korea," Mulloy said. "We continue to be committed. But this was a business decision related to Intel's specific needs and business requirements."
Besides Intel, South Korea has attracted R&D centers from global companies such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) since 2004 as part of its efforts make the country a hub of research and development in Northeast Asia.
