Foxconn Technology Group and Johnson Controls announced that they're working together on "smart buildings" and other advanced manufacturing solutions in Wisconsin.
The two companies announced Wednesday that they've signed a memorandum of understanding to form a "global technology strategic partnership." Johnson Controls and Foxconn Industrial Internet (Fii) will work together to utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to advance smart building and smart city technologies.
The partnership also allows Johnson Controls to become the preferred provider of building management products and solutions at Foxconn's upcoming Mt. Pleasant facilities, and could potentially allow Johnson Controls to work at other Foxconn facilities across the world, according to a news release.
"We look forward to this collaboration with Johnson Controls, a global leader in building technology, to apply their expertise to leverage our expertise in Artificial Intelligence to further advance into the next generation of smart technology solutions," Brand Cheng, Fii CEO, said in a statement.
Fii is a design and manufacturing service provider of communication network equipment, using things like AI, advanced manufacturing and the industrial internet of things to create smarter and better connected facilities.
This new partnership is the latest example of Foxconn and Johnson Controls working together since Foxconn announced plans to build a high-tech manufacturing facility in Mt. Pleasant. The two companies, along with Northwestern Mutual and Advocate Aurora Health, are part of a $100 million venture fund that aims to invest in startups.
However, Foxconn's Wisconsin efforts haven't exactly gone according to plan, as the company has fallen behind on its hiring goals and changed the scope of what it expects to manufacture at its Mt. Pleasant site. Foxconn began construction on its local facilities last week.
