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The 16-week accelerator programme mainly focuses on startups in the augmented and virtual reality, 3D printing and scanning, and robotics

Lowe’s Innovation Labs-Bangalore

Lowe’s Innovation Labs (LIL), an innovation hub of US-based Lowe’s Companies Inc., announced today the opening of LIL-Bangalore and unveiled its new facility in the heart of Bangalore.

The new lab will house tech-savvy startups that will participate in an intensive 16-week accelerator programme and give them an opportunity to partner with Lowe’s and deploy their technology in the US.

LIL-Bangalore’s primary focus and priority technology areas include augmented and virtual reality, 3D printing and scanning, and robotics.

Lowe’s created LIL in 2014 to bring together uncommon partners with a commitment to get technology out of the lab and into the real world. Beginning with science fiction prototyping to craft a narrative for the future, LIL collaborates with startups and has introduced projects including the Lowe’s Holoroom, an augmented and virtual reality home improvement design tool, the OSHbot autonomous retail service robot, and in-store and online 3D scanning and printing.

“Lowe’s Innovation Labs-Bangalore will provide an open space where startups can interact and rapidly bring customer experience solutions to life through cutting-edge technologies,” said Kyle Nel, Executive Director of LIL. “Bangalore is a dynamic community with world-class tech resources right in the heart of the city making it the perfect launching pad to expand our work in the US and take disruptive technology to the next level.”

LIL-Bangalore will also complement Lowe’s existing Bangalore Global In-house Center (GIC), which has been operating since 2014 and has grown to include more than 400 employees working on technology and analytics solutions.

LIL-Bangalore is expected to welcome its first round of accelerator startups later this year.

Founded in 1946, Lowe’s Companies is a home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customers a week in the US, Canada and Mexico through its stores and online. With fiscal year 2014 sales of US$56.2 billion, Lowe’s has more than 1,845 home improvement and hardware stores and 265,000 employees.

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