Wuhan University Oracle Spatial Innovation Center

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.

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.

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.

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.

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