Essence partners EDB to launch first R&D and martech hub in APAC

Essence has established its first innovation, research and development hub in Asia Pacific to incubate industry-leading marketing technology products and offer talent development programmes. Named Essence Global Ventures (EGV), the hub will collaborate with the Economic Development Board (EDB) to enhance Singapore’s position as a global centre for business, innovation and talent. EGV will develop products that use predictive data signals and automation to improve business performance, customer experience and brand governance. These solutions will be commercialised and deployed across 106 markets via Essence’s offices worldwide. Through the move, the global data and measurement-driven media agency under GroupM seeks to advance its product proposition to be the global market leader in predictive, intuitive and growth-driven business solutions for its clients. SVP and managing director Kunal Guha, who oversees Essence's Singapore office as well as the agency's product offering in APAC, said, “We are embarking on an exciting future in incubating and developing product propositions for the new era of marketing, with data, technology, protection and experience at the very core. Through EGV, we are thrilled to be building these future-forward solutions, made in Singapore and transplanted to the world.” An executive council, comprising senior global and regional leaders from Essence, will oversee the strategic direction and delivery of EGV’s research and development. Additionally, EGV’s strategic initiatives will include talent development programmes to grow and support Singapore’s next generation of industry leaders through professional development and training programmes in high-demand fields, including data science, advanced analytics, data and product engineering, creative technology, user experience design, and data integrity and privacy. Dawn Lim, deputy director, commercial and professional services at EDB said that the establishment of Essence’s first global innovation hub in Asia Pacific based out of Singapore reflects confidence in Singapore’s ecosystem of innovation and talent as a driving engine for product development and innovation. "The hub will create exciting job opportunities and develop Singapore’s capability in high-growth areas such as data science and user experience, which are key innovation drivers today for the marketing and advertising sector,” he added. Essence currently has nine offices across the APAC and plans to continues its rapid growth in Singapore and in the region. Read more: Essence APAC CEO on why expansion into Malaysia is not yet on the cards Essence APAC CEO shares agency’s ‘bullish’ plans on Indonesia growth