Can Singapore become a second home for Chinese tech?

Singapore

THE arrival of Chinese tech firms in Singapore is more of a trickle than a flood, based on industry professionals' observations of the scene.

But Singapore will retain an allure for these Chinese companies, given its location and other qualities, industry watchers told The Business Times.

Even with the opening this year of a research facility by artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider Yitu Technology, as well as AI start-up SenseTime's plans to raise its headcount and expand its presence here, most tech companies expanding their footprint here are still American or European, said Colliers International research head Tricia Song.

Analysts at Edmund Tie & Co also noted that among the six tech companies taking new or bigger offices in the Republic since the middle of the year, only one - Hong Kong-based PCCW Solutions, which expanded the floor space at it…