Lenovo and SAP are expanding an existing partnership to provide more data center solutions. While initially focusing these new efforts on China, the companies say they plan a “global go-to-market” effort.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The agreement was disclosed Tuesday.

Part of the deal includes “showcasing joint differentiated solutions in Lenovo Enterprise Innovation Centers” such as the one in the Triangle.

“With over 5,000 servers optimized for SAP HANA and shipped by Lenovo, our experience in helping transform and drive growth for customers continues a tradition of leadership related to mission-critical SAP applications and SAP HANA platforms,” said Gerry Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the PC and Enterprise Business Group for Lenovo. “Expanding our partnership with SAP provides a greater foundation to collaborate on new and innovative solutions to solve major challenges facing businesses today related to turning insights into action.”

HANA refers to SAP offerings.

Lenovo, which operates its global executive headquarters in Morrisville, is seeking to expand its data center offerings after acquiring IBM’s x86 server business. Most Lenovo operations are based in China. Lenovo’s server and service-related businesses are based in the Triangle.

“The agreement is intended to significantly strengthen an existing partnership and to combine SAP solutions with Lenovo’s data center offerings to provide customers with technology that can help organizations become agile digital enterprises,” the companies said.

Key points in the partnership include:

  • “Further strengthening joint execution, including developing innovative cloud solutions in China.
  • “Engaging in new innovations between SAP HANA and Lenovo systems to explore and define new technologies that address the needs of the digital economy.
  • “Jointly executing global go-to-market programs, inclusive of system integrators and technology partners, to bring these new technologies to our joint customers. This will include showcasing joint differentiated solutions in Lenovo Enterprise Innovation Centers in Stuttgart, Germany; Morrisville, North Carolina; and a center soon to be opened in Beijing, China.”

“SAP and Lenovo have enjoyed a successful partnership, and we look forward to expanding our collaborative efforts to help companies become true digital enterprises,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, head of Business Development and Strategic Ecosystem for SAP. “Together, we are bolstering the development of innovative cloud solutions for customers in China, and exploring new technologies based on SAP HANA and Lenovo systems that will help address the needs of the digital economy.”