Siemens Corporate Technology has celebrated the official opening of its Siemens Corporate Technology China research center in Beijing.

Siemens intends to invest around E80 million by 2010 in the two Chinese locations Beijing and Shanghai, where over 300 scientists will conduct research on new environmental, energy, healthcare, and automation technologies.

"The People's Republic of China is one of the most important pillars of our business in the Asia-Pacific region and is gaining increasing importance in our operating business globally," said Professor Hermann Requardt, member of the Siemens AG Corporate Executive Committee and head of Corporate Technology. "In selecting a new research location, proximity to our customers is the decisive factor ¨C as well as proximity to production locations and outstanding universities."

With over 31,000 employees, Siemens is one of the largest employers among foreign-owned enterprises in China.

With its new research location in Beijing, Siemens plans to increase its presence in the region and at the same time expand its role as a trendsetter in the development of innovations. Siemens Corporate Technology China is today Siemens' largest major research center in the Asia-Pacific region. The enterprise has already hired 200 highly qualified scientists, and that number will grow to 300 by the year 2008. Around E80 million will be invested in the location over the next few years.