German airline Lufthansa opened Innovation Hub in Singapore and Shezen earlier this month, becoming the first non-Asian airline group to expand travel and mobility tech development efforts in the region, according to the company on Tuesday.

“Not only are the Asian markets showing particularly dynamic growth in our core businesses, but they are now often also leading the way in digital travel and mobility solutions,” Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG was cited in the company’s press statement posted on its website early July. “With the new locations of the Lufthansa Innovation Hub, we want to learn from the developments in Asia, build specific partnerships in the digital context, and benefit from our experience.”

The Lufthansa Innovation Hub was launched on July 1. At the center, business and tech experts from the German airline will work together with Asian companies to advance air travel and mobility technology and develop solutions tailored to local Asian markets, according to the company. An unnamed official said Lufthansa Innovation Hub Asia will serve as a bridge connecting its headquarters in Germany and the markets in Asia.

Based in Cologne, Lufthansa is Europe’s second-largest airline. It released in-flight internet service for the first time in the industry and has led various innovation projects to advance air travel experience. It opened its first Innovation Hub in Berlin in 2014 and plans to invest total 500 million euros ($583 million) on tech innovation by 2020.

By Moon Ji-woong and Cho Jeehyun

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