IBM has announced a $200 million investment for a dedicated campus in Munich, Germany to produce Internet of Things technology that leverages cognitive computing.

The Watson IoT headquarters, part of a $3 billion investment by IBM globally, will let clients collaborate and test new business models in the automotive, electronics, healthcare, and insurance industries, IBM said today. The facility will employ 1,000, including researchers, engineers and business experts.

“By inviting our clients and partners to join us in Munich, we are opening up our talent and technologies to help deliver on the promise of IoT and establishing a global hotbed for collaborative innovation,” Harriet Green, Global Head of IBM’s Watson IoT business, said in the announcement.

IBM has 6,000 clients worldwide tapping IBM Watson for IoT solutions and services, up from 4,000 just 8 months ago.

These include Aerialtronics, which produces cognitively-enabled commercial drones that, for instance, can inspect tall installations such as wind turbines and make suggestions on maintenance, learning all the while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWDfP_udMA0

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, in Center City, Philadelphia, is also building hospital rooms that allow patients to interact vocally with IBM Watson to change their lighting or environment, or ask questions. And engineering firm Schaeffler is incorporating cognitive technology in its sensors.

Other projects that IBM have announced as part of its global $3 billion investment in Watson in IoT include:

• Blockchain technology, which can be used to securely share IoT data;
• A natural language interface for IBM Watson that can be included in customer-facing tech;
• A Cognitive Cookbook for Watson developers, containing demonstrations and best practices.

To learn more about IBM Watson and how to incorporate it into your projects, click here.

Click here to learn about IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Program, which includes access to Watson and technical support.