The Wuhan University-Oracle Spatial Innovation Center (WOSIC) has been established in Wuhan University, leveraging global best practices to enhance knowledge transfer of China's spatial technology.

"The establishment of Wuhan University - Oracle Spatial Innovation Center is a strong cooperation between a prestigious university in China and the world's largest enterprise software provider," said Zhou Chuangbing, VP, Wuhan University. "It will contribute significantly to the improvement of the academic level and R&D capability of the geo-spatial information technology sector in China, and Chinese consumers will have access to more advanced geo-spatial products and services. The center is a follow-up of the launch of Oracle Academy program at Wuhan University, and I believe this foretells further cooperation between our university and Oracle Corporation."

WOSIC aims to accelerate the advancement of research and development of spatial technology among Chinese academia through cooperation in joint research projects, software donation, curriculum development, training, and internship program. Oracle Asia Research and Development Center is pioneering the market in developing innovative solutions based on Oracle's world-class technologies.

Dr. Steven Hagan: VP, Software Development, Oracle (left) shakes hands with Prof. Gong Jianya, Director, State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University.

"Over the last 30 years, R&D has been at the core of driving Oracle's innovation and our position at the forefront of Information Technology (IT). Oracle has been increasing its R&D investments in China, and the establishment of three R&D centres in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing respectively is a strong testament of such efforts," Pascal Sero, VP, Oracle Asia Research & Development Center. "The establishment of the Wuhan University - Oracle Spatial Innovation Center underlines our growing attention on localization and enhanced cooperation with local R&D institutions. We are committed to deliver the most suitable information architecture to our partners and customers in China to address their unique demands."

According to a report from Chinese Network Economy Research Center, the market for map information service in China will exceed 500 million RMB by the end of 2008 and reach to 1.5 billion RMB by the end of 2010.

At the MOU ceremony are (from left): Dr. Ning An, Principal Developer, Software Development, Oracle; Jeffrey Xie, Senior Manager, Software Development, Oracle; Dr. Steven Hagan, VP, Software Development, Oracle; Prof. Li Deren, Chairman, Academic Committee, Wuhan University; Prof. Zhou Chuangbing, VP, Wuhan University; and Prof. Gong Jianya, Director, State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University.

In repeated surveys beginning in 2002 and most recently in 2006, analyst firm IDC reports show that Oracle's spatial information management-oriented database has 80-90 percent of the market share in the enterprise spatial information management database market. "Wuhan University is one of the key universities in China. It is the world's largest base for geoinformatics education and research," said Li Deren, Chairman, Academic Committee, Wuhan University. "As early as 1999 Wuhan University began its exchanges and cooperation with the Oracle in the field of spatial database. Its self-developed GIS system GeoStar utilized Oracle Spatial 8i, Oracle Spatial 9i as the product of the mainstream database platform. The establishment of this center will facilitate Wuhan University and Oracle's cooperation on personnel training, basic research, and technologic development, which in turn promotes the development of Geoinformatics and Spatial database."

The memorandum of understanding signing underscores the enhanced cooperation between Oracle and educational institutions in Central China's Hubei Province. Since 2002, Oracle has made in-kind donations of $15 million to Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology in the forms of software, faculty training, teaching materials, and preferential certification in order to advance the improvement of teaching environment, curriculum construction, and faculty training in these universities. Every year, more than 1,900 students benefit from Oracle's programs.