SINGAPORE, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Debug, an initiative of global technology firm Google to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, announced on Tuesday the expansion of its research and development (R&D) and mosquito production capabilities in Singapore, marking the establishment of the company's first international R&D hub and its largest facility for adult mosquito production.

The initiative aligns with Google's broader strategy to expand its Singapore-based R&D footprint, deepen local research capabilities and develop technologies that can be exported globally through its platforms and products, the firm said in a statement.

To scale its impact, Debug is growing its team of software and hardware engineers alongside mosquito scientists in Singapore to accelerate the deployment of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

These advancements will also enhance the scaled production of Wolbachia-carrying male mosquitoes, which will help reduce the population of disease-carrying mosquitoes, and boost additional innovations to offer more effective ways to manage mosquito-borne diseases in Singapore, Southeast Asia, and beyond. ■