Public-Private
Partnership R&D Lab Integrates Business Innovation and Product Development
Capabilities to Drive Singapore Ecosystem Ahead in Industry 4.0

�

SINGAPORE�-�Media OutReach�- 26^�October 2018 -�Internet of Things (IoT) and smart wearable
company KaHa
today announced plans to open a multipartite innovation and research lab in
Singapore, modelled after the network philosophy of IoT and created in response
to market demands for faster development and commercialization. Public and
private partners across the IoT development value chain including A*STAR
SIMTech, Bridgestone, Curtis Australia, MHA Manufacture de Haute Accessoirie
Partners, Tex Line and Titan, will come together under-one-roof to streamline
development resulting in faster prototyping, testing, and go-to-market.

The new multipartite COVE R2C IoT Innovation Lab will find its home in the vibrant one-north technology hub of Singapore�

�

Designed
for efficient multi-party collaboration, the various development stations will
be onsite and in close proximity - from business to project management,
hardware to software, prototyping to testing, and from remodification up to
delivery. Development time and costs will be greatly reduced, for instance
speeding up schedules of weeks into just days. Whereas in conventional
processing, work is done piecemeal and transported partially and gradually at
intervals, and delays occur frequently and are exacerbated by minor changes.

�

The lab's
core infrastructure is the KaHa platform and its AI capabilities. KaHa has over
the past 3 years developed an architecture which is unparalleled and optimised
for consumer-centric experiences like health and wellness, fitness and sports,
digital payment and safety. The company has big data architecture and tools for
artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and recently its proof-of-concept
on natural language processing (NLP). The company has also created a Network Operations
Lab (NOC) that �facilitates the
proof-of-concept process through real-time testing of available/simulated data
with live demonstrations all within the same space. Regular reviews at the NOC
will ensure data integrity and projects timeliness.

�

The lab
is located at the vibrant one-north technology hub of Singapore and the launch
is targeted for initial projects in healthcare and wellness, smart apparels,
sensor hub and power consumption. The lab will also work with KaHa's brand
partners and co-plan their roadmap and play the role of bringing all
stakeholders towards achieving these use case on smart wearables, as well as
the building of a comprehensive healthcare IoT ecosystem capable of integrating
medtech and public-private healthcare and related service providers. The pioneering
partners are:

�

• KaHa: Singapore-based and the
  region's only end-to-end IoT and smart wearable platform company with patents
  in IoT platform architecture. KaHa possesses deep industry links, including
  being the strategic partner for A*STAR SIMTech and EAC flagship industry
  programmes.
• A*STAR SIMTech: Singapore
  Institute of Manufacturing Technology develops high value manufacturing
  technology and human capital to contribute to the competitiveness of Singapore
  industry.
• Bridgestone:� A Hong Kong-based watch manufacturer with
  International reach including its own production base in China.� The company specializes in creative design,
  production and sales of lifestyle and fashion watches.
• Curtis Australia: With a heritage
  from the 1890's, an international jewellery,
  watch and pen atelier known for its distinctive, handmade and desirable luxury
  products crafted in solid carat golds and precious gems.
• MHA Manufacture de Haute
  Accessoirie Partners: A division of Niklaus LNI SA, established over 110 years
  ago on the foundation of swiss watch manufacturing, MHA is the premier Swiss
  designer and manufacturer of private label luxury accessories.
• Tex Line: A one-stop apparel and
  sportswear sourcing supply chain and service provider, with reliable capability
  in overseeing sourcing to production and delivery.
• Titan Company Limited: The fifth
  largest integrated own brand watch manufacturer in the world. Over the last
  three decades, Titan has expanded and explored into under penetrated markets
  and created leading brands across categories.

�

IoT and
the smart wearables industry will touch the lives of over a billion people in
the next 5 years with a market value of close to USD120B. With� KaHa's proprietary platform coupled with the presence
and expertise of local and international partners, the lab will be a driver of
growth for the Singapore IoT and wearable ecosystem having a global impact. KaHa
plans to hire and train locals talents and create a �strong local capability and know-how, and help
strengthen the Singapore core and competitive edge for Industry 4.0.

�

Managed
by a head of lab with end-to-end IoT experience, the lab will provide
opportunities for jobs and upskilling The lab will also host hackathons and
release software development kits (SDK), with the latest tools in areas
including AI, Machine Learning, NLP, Big Data and health-oriented algorithms, digital
payment, enabling participants to problem-solve real use cases and understand
how their work contributes towards building the ecosystem.

�

CEO and founder
of KaHa, Pawan Gandhi comments, "As a home-grown company committed to the
development of the local IoT and wearable ecosystem, it's important that we have
core development capabilities here in Singapore that can capitalize on
opportunities and respond to market demands quickly. We are also actively
engaging ETPL, the commercialization arm of A*STAR to harness local industry
expertise to boost the nation innovation engine. We have taken the philosophy
of IoT and connectivity to heart, ensuring we have oversight and responsibility
each step of the way, while becoming even more nimble and flexible to cater to
manufacturers' needs faster."

�

Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech added,
"SIMTech has had a long history of collaborating with the industry. We have
partnered KaHa in our emerging applications programmes over the past years, and
I am happy to see that it has yielded innovative breakthroughs in IoT and smart
wearable technology that will significantly contribute to the local ecosystem.
We are pleased to take our partnership to the next level and work together with COVE R2C IoT Innovation Lab to speed up the
development and commercialization of emerging technologies to drive Singapore's advanced
manufacturing industry."

�

Vice President of Bridgestone Watch LTD, Ray Lin added
"Providing the best quality products and services to our customers has
always been our formula of success.� Therefore it is an honour to be able
to join hands with so many industry leaders and together, and continue to innovate
and create some of the best watches in the world.� We look forward to
contributing our expertise and also bring these innovation to our customers and
the market.

�

CEO of
Curtis Australia, Glenn Curtis comments "The high-end luxury timepiece and
jewelry market is seeing an evolution as even the most discerning ultra-high
networth clientele develops interest in smart wearable technology functions
simply because they have become ubiquitous and improve living habits. As a
partner in the research center, Curtis will contribute design knowledge through
years of handcrafting the finest timepieces and writing instruments and gain
first-hand understanding of the most efficient ways of incorporating smart
technology."

�

CEO of
MHA, Andy Ras-Wok added "With decades of private-label specialist manufacturing
experience in luxury accessories from jewellery to writing instruments, we are
keenly aware of the exciting opportunity IoT and smart wearables present to the
international luxury market. This is a great opportunity to enhance our value
network internationally and work with specialist partners. We are especially
excited to represent the Swiss brand of manufacturing in this collaboration,
and are already thinking of further bringing on fellow Swiss partners to the lab."

�

CMO of Titan, Suparna
Mitra comments "As the global wave of wearable and
digital innovation continues to rise, Titan too is proactively creating new
lifestyle products and experiences for everyone, especially today's millennial
consumers.� The success of many of our
smart watches powered by KaHa IoT technology confirms our investment into smart
wearables. Participation in the lab will further our partnership with KaHa as
our technology collaborator and strengthen Titan as the leader in watches and
accessories."

�

Product Manager of
Tex Line, Justin Tan added "Through our years of building up expertise and
relationships in the apparel and sporting goods industry, we pride ourselves on
our constant ability to offer our customers cost-competitiveness and quality.
As the highly-competitive sports apparel market moves into smart wearables, we
must stay ahead of the curve by re-thinking how we can accelerate product
development and cut go-to-market time. COVE R2C IoT Innovation Lab will provide our industry an important
advantage."

�

About
KaHa

KaHa, a
Singapore-based technology company, has offices in Singapore, China, India and
Switzerland. The company has customers and partners around the world spanning
across high-end luxury, financial services, digital payment, smart automotive,
jewelleries and accessories, health and wellness, OEM and smart apparel. COVE,
a registered brand of KaHa, is a patented end-to-end IoT SMART wearables
platform and provides a one-stop solution for brands to bring exciting smart
wearables to their customers, with reduced go-to-market time and costs.

�

With
in-built Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms, COVE provides
innovative, exciting and personalized user experiences that are specially
designed with a range of consumer verticals in mind: Safety, Sports &
Fitness, Health & Wellness, Digital Payment, Smart Home, Smart Automotive
and Special Needs. The platform includes electronics design, printed circuit
board assembly, application framework for iOS and Android, cloud services, data
analytics and smart after-sales service tool.

�

The
company's leadership team is passionate about the consumer journey, and the
company also has intellectual properties in Smart Analogue watches, making it
one of the most unique offerings in the fast-growing wearables market.

�

For more information, please visit�www.coveiot.com

�

About the Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic
oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative
technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both
the public and private sectors to benefit society.

�

As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR
bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic
growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal
benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and
sustainability.

�

We play a key role in nurturing and developing a
diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and Research Institutes, the
wider research community and industry. A*STAR's R&D activities span
biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering, with research
entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.

For more information, please visit https://www.a-star.edu.sg/

�

About
the A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech)

The Singapore
Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) develops high-value
manufacturing technology and human capital to contribute to the competitiveness
of the Singapore industry. It collaborates with multinational and local
companies in the precision engineering, electronics, semiconductor, medical
technology, aerospace, automotive, marine, logistics and other sectors.

SIMTech is a research
institute of the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) of the Agency
for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

For more information,
please visit: www.SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg

�

About�Bridgestone
Watch LTD.

A Hong Kong-based
watch manufacturer with international reach including its own production base
in China.� The company specializes in creative design, production and
sales of lifestyle and fashion watches.��Established in
1974,��the�Group has been contributing in watchmaking industry
for more than 40 years. Over the past decades, the company has expanded to a
global leader in watchmaking business through their enthusiastic mindset and
continuous quality improvement.

�

About Curtis Australia

Curtis Australia is an international
jewelry, watch and pen atelier known for its distinctive, handmade and
desirable luxury products crafted in solid carat golds and precious gems.
Designed and created in house and known worldwide for their exquisite
craftsmanship and unrivalled design, Curtis strives for excellence at every
touch point, an approach that has drawn recognition from around the globe.

�

For further information, please visit www.curtisaustralia.com

�

About MHA
Manufacture de Haute Accessoirie

MHA
Manufacture de Haute Accessoirie is a division of Niklaus LNI SA, and part of
the LN Industries group, a Swiss-based industrial supplier active in a wide
range of areas, from metal tubing to gas mixers and generators. A private label
specialist of luxury accessories created in 1905, the MHA Division has been
designing and manufacturing accessories and unique objects for the most
prestigious brands.

�

For
further information, please visit www.mhageneve.com

About Tex Line

Tex Line Associates has close to 40 years' experience in
apparel and sports equipment manufacturing and sourcing. We are present in key
manufacturing territories such as China, South East Asia, India, Bangladesh and
Pakistan. The ability to be nimble and provide options to our customers that
maximizes the strengths of each manufacturing country is key in the industry and
valued by our clients. We also value add through fabric and trims sourcing,
European design proposals, and are gearing towards environmentally friendly
manufacturing. Tex Line's latest venture is into smart apparels where we
foresee technology assisted garments will gain popularity in this high tech
world. �

For further information, please visit www.texline-global.com

About Titan Company Limited

Titan Company Limited (earlier known as Titan
Industries Limited), a joint venture between the Tamil Nadu Industrial
Development Corporation (TIDCO) and Tata Group, commenced operations in 1987
under the name Titan Watches Limited. In 1994, Titan diversified into Jewellery
and subsequently into eyewear with Titan Eyeplus. In 2013, Titan entered the
fragrances segment with SKINN.� Today,
Titan Company Limited, India's unchallenged leader in watches, jewellery and
eyewear, is credited with changing the face of all these industries.

�

For further information, please visit www.titan.co.in