London, 7 February 2023 – London, United Kingdom – Supponor, the world’s leading virtual advertising technology solution provider in sports, today continues to accelerate its evolution into an AI-based technology platform through the opening of a new R&D centre in the Sophia-Antipolis region of France.
Having mastered the software-based technology space, Supponor is now building and deploying AI-driven capabilities across its platform. The new R&D centre is a central plank of that expansion strategy. The expanding AI R&D team will form a crucial part of the Supponor’s growing product organisation, conducting both short-term and long-term AI research in the field of computer vision AI and natural scene rendering.
Leading this research for Supponor is Ali Mouizina, Head of Research. Ali brings extensive experience in the field and has already recruited a team of PhD and MSc researchers to join the pioneering facility.
Supponor celebrated the launch of the new R&D Centre when CEO James B. Gambrell attended an Investors Gala function at the French Ambassador Hélène Tréheux-Duchêne’s residence in London last November.
“This is an exciting moment both for Supponor and for France,” says Ali Mouizina. “We have an unparalleled team of experts in the field of AI/ML centric computer vision. The research this team conducts in Sophia-Antipolis will support Supponor in scaling up to new challenges and will be central to innovating Supponor’s product capabilities and enhancing our market expansion.”
The French government has designated the Sophia-Antipolis region as a Centre-of-Excellence and an area for AI-related investment. Academic institutions in the region collaborate closely with local businesses to support this objective.
“France is the best location for us to execute our AI-focussed R&D activity to support our product innovation and market expansion goals,” says Steve Plunkett, Chief Product Officer, Supponor. “The Sophia-Antipolis region has a large and growing pool of AI talent and a dense network of research centres. This first year of operation will see us bring together a team of 10 AI research professionals, which we will continue to expand over the next several years, to support our ambitious technology and commercial goals.”
In this current season (2022-23) Supponor will double the deployment of its fully software-based technology Supponor AIR® compared to last season. Across Europe, North America, and Australia, Supponor AIR®, will be deployed in close to 3,000 live sports events. This tremendous growth underlines the position as a market leader and rapidly increasing demand for virtual advertising in the sports industry.
About Supponor
Supponor has been the market leader in the virtual advertising industry for the past decade, proven in live broadcast environments in thousands of top-tier sports events worldwide. Supponor AIR®, launched in 2021, is a fully software-based technology platform that relies on leading-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) approaches to deliver authentic virtual placement or replacement advertising live, on any surface, in any sport, at any venue, and in any weather condition. Supponor’s virtual advertising solutions have been trusted by rights holders in top-tier sports leagues across football, hockey, basketball, rugby, cricket, and a host of other top sports. Supponor is headquartered in London and has its core R&D base in Helsinki, with regional offices in Barcelona, Milan, Cologne, New York, Toronto, and Sydney. Additional information: www.supponor.com.