Office machine maker looks to the future

Hewlett Packard (HP) will be focusing on projects targeted at complex technological challenges posed to customers in the next decade.

The office machine manufacturer’s advanced research group, HP Labs, will move from handling about 150 smaller projects to concentrating on up to 30 larger ones, it says.

Led by director Prith Banerjee, the 23 labs focus on five main areas of interest: information explosion, dynamic cloud services, content transformation, intelligent infrastructure and sustainability.

HP has recently forged working relationships with universities, partners, customers and venture capitalists in order to gather information and insight into the next generation of technical challenges to be addressed.

Chairman and chief executive of the company Mark Hurd said: "HP Labs has a long history of delivering innovation that has changed the way people use technology.

"The steps we’re taking today will further strengthen Labs and help ensure that HP is focused on groundbreaking research that addresses customer needs and creates new growth opportunities for the company."

Research will be transformed into commercial products and services, which could possibly include innovations in office equipment and office machines.

HP is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and developers of office machines, office equipment and new technologies.

It invests $3.6 billion (about £1.8 million) a year in research and development.