Cisco Systems' president and CEO John Chambers today announced that the company intends to open an R&D center in Shanghai.

Cisco said it would invest $32 million in its R&D center over the next five years and expects to hire about 100 employees over the next 18 months for the site. The company believes this R&D center will enhance its ability to tailor products and be more responsive to changing service provider customer demands in China, Asia and around the world.

Cisco expects its R&D center in Shanghai to open in Q3 2005.