Zhongguancun still appeals to Oracle after a decade

Zhongguancun was the "top choice" for Oracle, the US-based computer technology company, to set up its largest international development center in China, said Frank Xiong, vice-president of Oracle Group and general manager of the China Develop Center.

Zhongguancun Science Park is known as Beijing's technology hub and the country's "Silicon Valley". It was established in 1988, initially as an experimental area for locally developed new technologies. Today it is home to a group of world-renowned IT giants, both multinational and domestic.

"After over two decades of development, Zhongguancun has become very appealing," said Xiong.

The science park has a cluster of talented people and multinational enterprises, which is a great match for Oracle's China development center, he said.

As a major part of its global business, Oracle set up five development centers in China - in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, as well as Suzhou and Nanjing in Jiangsu province, which are collectively called the Oracle China Development Center.

Occupying three buildings in Zhongguancun, the Beijing center is the largest one with around 1,500 employees. It covers almost all of Oracle's major businesses, including database development, flagship products and middleware, said Xiong.

"In China, we are producing global teams and trying to target clients all around the world."

Xiong said that Oracle's total investment in R&D projects in the world reached $5 billion a year and the amount in China accounted for a large part of this.

Oracle's Beijing development center has been in Zhongguancun for more than a decade. Xiong said that it was like home. "You know, doing computer technology R&D, it's all about people. In Zhongguancun, there are very innovative and great teams. The vibe is very young and exciting."

Xiong said Zhongguancun's business and natural environment were also appealing. He said that when cooperating with the science park in past years, Oracle benefited from a range of policies and the area's infrastructure also added to its appeal.

"There are greenery and public parks, where our staff go during their break times. They have a community, where they can relax and communicate with employees from other companies. It's very good for their development, both professionally and personally," he said.

One of the science park's key focuses is cloud computing, according to a report released by Zhongguancun on its major projects for 2013 to 2015.

"It is also Oracle's focus in the future. So it is imperative to further cooperate with Zhongguancun," said Xiong.

fuchao@chinadaily.com.cn