City of Shanghai confirms Apple plans for R&D center
updated 10:14 am EST, Mon January 28, 2013
No word on Beijing rumors
Apple is opening a research and development center in Shanghai this summer, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce has announced. The company is said to have secured three buildings in Pudong, the city's main finance and commerce district, of which one will be devoted to procurement management and R&D. Apple itself has yet to make an announcement, but the company rarely talks about its infrastructure projects.
The announcement appears to line up exactly with a report from earlier this month, although details such as square footage and the cost of the venture haven't been confirmed. If the CNET account is true, Apple may have to spend about $8.04 million per year to rent the three buildings. Combined the facilities are thought to offer roughly 107,639 square feet.
Tencent claims that Apple is working on a Beijing R&D center have largely evaporated. CEO Tim Cook allegedly mentioned the center to Beijing's acting mayor earlier this month, but nothing has emerged since. It's unlikely that Apple would establish two R&D centers in the same country, at least not in quick succession.
