(Yicai Global) Jan. 25 -- IBMis making changes to its research and development operations in China,the US computer giant told Yicai Global after a media report said the firm had closed IBM China Research Lab, the first research center it set up in a developing country more than two decades ago.

Various R&D divisions, including IBM China Research Lab, will be integrated to focus more on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence and will be headed by IBM China's Chief Technology Officer Xie Dong, Yicai Global learned from an insider.

IBM China Research Lab, one of the company’s 12 research institutes worldwide, has been shut, news outlet Ifeng reported yesterday. Founded in 1995,IBM China Research Lab has been dedicated in recent years to research in industrial solutions, cognitive computing, computing as a service, and the Internet of Things.

“Our R&D in China will increase and also become more focused,” an executive at the New York-based firm's China arm told Yicai Global.

All R&D departments in China, including IBM China Research Lab, IBM China Development Lab, and IBM China System Lab, will be reorganized, the insider said.

Editors: Xu Wei, Emmi Laine