GroupM has formed an R&D partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), in an effort to enhance Singapore’s position in attracting the world’s most talented data scientists through new jobs in the market.

The three-year partnership will see the creation of a global R&D team in Singapore, focusing on developing new technology around data science to improve GroupM’s position in media investment management.

“The rapid worldwide growth of data-driven advertising has driven a corresponding, and massive, demand for PhD level data scientists to design and implement these next generation media technologies,” said Harvey Goldhersz, chief data officer and CEO of GroupM Analytics.

“With today’s partnership, GroupM gains a valuable advantage in attracting the most astute and promising minds to our Singapore R&D operations while advancing Singapore as a world centre for the development of the industry’s most advanced media products,” he added.

As part of the agreement, GroupM will increase the number of PhDs in data sciences and analytics it hires for its Singapore operations on top of expanding its relationship with the country’s top science and tech institutions, through a strategic investment by EDB.

The agreement is unique in the media industry and should provide an increased number of data-science jobs in Singapore outside of the academic realm.

According to a statement, GroupM’s R&D operations will “leverage Singapore’s infrastructure and talent pool” to provide more professionals with favourable conditions in which to develop their careers.

Singapore Economic Development Board assistant managing director Kelvin Wong added: “We welcome the establishment of GroupM R&D in Singapore, and the transformative effect it will have on how brand owners plan and buy media.

“It will also create opportunities for analytics talent to work in the exciting and fast-moving space of media investment management, and contribute to EDB’s goal of developing 2,500 analytics professionals in Singapore by 2017.”

The news comes alongside GroupM Singapore’s appointment of Linda Lim to head of trading, following 15 months in the role of trading director.