IBM's Apache Spark push: Plans to put Spark in Bluemix; open tech centre

IBM has announced several initiatives related to the Apache Spark open-source software that is fast engine for large-scale data processing.

As part of its commitment to support the Spark ecosystem, IBM said it will embed Spark into its analytics and commerce platforms; as well as the Watson Health Cloud will leverage Spark as a key underpinning for its insight platform.

The company will offer Spark as a Cloud service on IBM Bluemix to make it possible for app developers to “quickly load data, model it, and derive the predictive artifact to use in their app.”

It has decided to open source its breakthrough IBM SystemML machine learning technology, and collaborate with Databricks to advance Spark’s machine learning capabilities.

IBM will also put more than 3,500 IBM researchers and developers to work on Spark-related projects at more than a dozen labs worldwide, and open a Spark Technology Center in San Francisco for the Data Science and Developer community to foster design-led innovation in intelligent applications.

The company aims to educate more than 1 million data scientists and data engineers on Spark through extensive partnerships with AMPLab, DataCamp, MetiStream, Galvanize and Big Data University MOOC. 

“We believe strongly in the power of open source as the basis to build value for clients, and are fully committed to Spark as a foundational technology platform for accelerating innovation and driving analytics across every business in a fundamental way,” said Beth Smith, General Manager, Analytics Platform, IBM Analytics. “Our clients will benefit as we help them embrace Spark to advance their own data strategies to drive business transformation and competitive differentiation.”

IBM is one of four founding members of the UC Berkeley AMPLab, where Spark was first invented in 2009.

“Over the course of the next few months, IBM scientists and engineers will work with the Apache Spark open community to rapidly accelerate access to advanced machine learning capabilities and help drive speed-to-innovation in the development of smart business apps,” IBM added.