In a move it said will make its smart building technology more secure, Johnson Controls has signed a framework agreement with San Francisco-based operational technology and internet of things (IoT) security firm Nozomi Networks Inc.
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) also said it participated as an investor in a $100 million funding round for Nozomi Networks last year, according to an Aug. 25 announcement. In a press release at the time, Nozomi described it as a "pre-IPO funding round."
Johnson Controls, with large operations in Glendale, will utilize Nozomi's technology in its OpenBlue platform, the announcement said. The digital computing platform, which Johnson Controls launched in 2020, uses data and artificial intelligence to integrate smart building systems.
“Johnson Controls is at the forefront of digitizing the built environment through our innovative OpenBlue platform, and we are continuously looking for opportunities to maximize safety, improve efficiency and ensure business continuity,” Johnson Controls chief technology officer Vijay Sankaran said in a statement.
The move to implement Nozomi's technology builds on Johnson Control's recent acquisition of Seattle-based cybersecurity firm Tempered Networks Inc., the announcement said. Johnson Controls announced that deal in June and did not disclose the terms.
The investment in Nozomi Networks by Johnson Controls appears to be through its venture capital arm JCI Ventures, which has backed 15 other companies to date, according to its website. Those investments were made between 2014 and 2022, according to Crunchbase.
Other companies that invested in Nozomi Networks through their corporate venture arms include Honeywell International Inc. (Nasdaq: HON) and German luxury auto manufacturer Porsche.
Last month, JCI Ventures participated as a strategic investor in a $10 million round for Australian workplace sensor startup XY Sense, according to a July 26 announcement.
