DEALS
Zhong Lun Advised Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group on the Establishment of A Branch Operation in Suzhou
Zhong Lun Advised Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group on the Establishment of A Branch Operation in Suzhou
On March 25, 2013, Microsoft Search Technology Center Asia Suzhou Branch (“Suzhou Branch") was established in Suzhou Industrial Park (“SIP"). The Zhong Lun team, led by Partner Hutchison Lee, including associate Xie Kejun and others, provided legal services for Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group in connection with its Suzhou Branch setup, including the drafting and negotiation of a MOU between Microsoft and SIP, the Fitting Work Agreement and Lease Agreement for the temporary building to be used by Suzhou Branch.
This is the fourth R&D and innovation base of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group in the Mainland, following Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The Suzhou Branch will focus on the businesses of search engine Bing, online advertising, MSN social platform technologies, voice and natural language processing and mobile Internet, and it will also put more emphasis on the products development for Chinese market.
Founded in Nov. 2011, Microsoft Search Technology Center Asia acts as a pillar force of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group. Its Beijing and Tokyo offices have recruited several hundred researchers at the time of establishment of Suzhou Branch. It has played a crucial role on the Microsoft Internet services and products and innovation since its founding of more than one year ago. The Suzhou Branch, also known as Microsoft Internet Innovation Center, will serve as a new innovation base for Microsoft in Asia-Pacific Region.