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Xerox to sell research facility in France to South Korean company

www.xerox.com

Xerox says it is selling its Xerox Research Centre Europe in Grenoble, France. It is being purchased by NAVER Corporation, described as South Korea’s leading internet company.

The research facility was founded in 1993, focusing on things like artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and ethnography.

Xerox’s chief technology officer, Steve Hoover, says that the majority of research by the facility was supporting the company’s business processing unit.

That unit was spun off earlier this year into a separate company, called Conduent, and Hoover says the research center no longer aligns with Xerox’s strategy.

“This transaction will allow us to better optimize our R&D investment, focusing in areas more aligned to our business,” Hoover said.

Hoover also said that, “research and innovation remain a critical element of Xerox’s strategy research in such areas as artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, ethnography, inkjet and digital printing and digital manufacturing, will continue at our famed Silicon Valley based Palo Alto Research Center, (PARC, a Xerox Company), and at the Xerox Research Center of Canada, as well as engineering for product development in locations throughout the globe.”

Once the sale becomes final, all 80 plus researchers and administrative staff are expected to become part of NAVER. Xerox will maintain ownership of intellectual property and arrange licensing agreements with NAVER.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.