PerkinElmer teams with TIBCO Software on Big Data

By Michael B. Farrell, Globe Staff

Big Data has brought together two major Boston area technology outfits.

PerkinElmer Inc., a Waltham life sciences company, has acquired exclusive rights to use advanced data analysis software from TIBCO Software Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif., company with a Somerville office, in scientific research and development markets. Terms of the deal, announced Thursday, were not disclosed.

The union between PerkinElmer and TIBCO highlights the growing importance of “big data” technology, which gives companies the ability to analyze and visualize large volumes of unstructured data, in the field of life science and pharmaceutical research and development.

“The whole area of data visualization and analysis is the biggest unmet need,” said Mike Stapleton, general manager of Informatics at PerkinElmer, the software arm of the company that has 7,000 employees worldwide and about 800 in Massachusetts.

The engineering division of TIBCO that is behind its data analysis platform Spotfire is located in Davis Square and is among a growing number of local companies that are making advances in the field of big data.

The deals means that TIBCO software will be more tightly integrated into PerkinElmer research projects for its customers, said Mark Lorion, vice president of marketing for Spotfire. “We are always looking for partners who are deeply skilled in expert in particular areas,” he said.

TIBCO has about 100 area employees and is hiring, said Lorion. “The office is bursting at the seams.”