Google working on new projects at top-secret 'X Lab' facility

Google has been developing new projects at a top-secret laboratory in California, according to reports in The New York Times.

The 'Google X' laboratory is working on a number of experimental and long-term projects, and Google co-founder Sergey Brin is "deeply involved", the report said.

The web firm has yet to formally acknowledge the existence of the laboratory, but industry analysts have pointed out that such clandestine research facilities are not uncommon.

Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group, told V3 that so-called "skunk works" have long been a fixture of Silicon Valley.

"They don't want folks trying to penetrate the site for stories and they'd rather have the people focused on imagining new products and not trying to hide from reporters," he said.

"The issue for projects like this is that they rarely result in products the company can sell, and they used to be a much bigger part of the tech scene until the market got more focused on quarterly results."

Google is famous for its willingness to pursue side projects. The company's '20 per cent policy' allows employees to spend up to a fifth of their time on personal projects.

Google also has a history of pursuing developing markets and emerging technologies, including mobile and web platforms such as Chrome and Android.

Enderle explained that developing experimental platforms can help a company, but that the odds are against such 'skunk works' operations paying off in the long term.

"Properly managed, these can help assure the long-term survival of the company. Unfortunately, historically, few have been properly managed," he said.