Siemens Invests in STB R&D

MUNICH -- Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG, has invested 4 million Euros in the creation of a Development Center for digital TV in the Industrial District of Manaus, Brazil. The Center will be made up of approximately 70 professionals including Siemens employees and external researchers. Together with three other R&D centers of the company, which are located in Germany, Belgium and Poland, Brazil will take part in a pioneering project to develop software for set-top boxes (converters for digital TV) that use DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), IPTV (TV through internet) and hybrid technologies. With this project, Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices in Brazil expects to export 2.5 million Euros in software for set-top-boxes.

"Brazil was chosen to host the new center as it combines competitive prices with highly skilled professionals, in addition to offering potential synergies with future local developments", explained the Worldwide Director of R&D for Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices, Mr. Ulf Schellin. "There is great potential for increased continuity and investments in Brazil, should the DVB be defined as the national standard for digital TV by the Brazilian government."

Internal Siemens specialists, professional researchers and experts from the Foundation Desembargador Paulo Feitoza (FPF) and the Institute Genius and Quality Software, will all participate in the project. The software developed in Brazil will be included in the set-top-boxes to be marketed worldwide.

"The local development of software for the set-top-box will bring advantages in several spheres," explains Germano Ramlow, Head of Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices, Brazil. "It is an important opportunity to include Brazil in the global development chain of promising technologies as digital TV transmissions open new export markets and further enhance Brazil's expert qualifications".

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI; Frankfurt: SIE)