Symantec, the fourth largest independent software supplier in the world, has signed a cooperation agreement with Chengdu High-Tech Zone to invest US$20 million to build an R&D center.

The new R&D center for Symantec in Chengdu is the company's second largest, next to the one in Beijing. It will be mainly engaged in the research and development of security strategies, anti-virus software, information data protection, storage technology and storage safety.

Earlier in 2006, Symantec set up sales offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

Mark Bregman, vice president and CTO of Symantec, says that the layout of the R&D centers in China is increasingly important to the company's global strategy.

Symantec has more than 400 branches all over the world, providing network safety and solutions to over 100 million endusers worldwide.