Infineon Technologies today announced the establishment of its latest IC Design Center and new subsidiary–Infineon Technologies Xi'an Co., Ltd–in Xi'an, China.

This represents another move of the company's steady business expansion and long-term presence in the Chinese market. Strategically located at Xi'an High-Tech Park, the new IC Design Center plays a vital role for integrated circuit design for all of Infineon's business groups, with the primary focus on developing innovative applications for communications as well as for automotive and industrial electronics. The new IC Design Center will enable Infineon to better serve the customers' needs and to harness the R&D talents in Western China to foster greater technology innovation.

Headed by Jean-Loup Leclere, General Manager of Infineon Technologies Xi'an Co Ltd, more than 1,000 employees are expected to join the Xi'an R&D Center by 2007, which will make it one of the largest IC design centers in Asia. This is in keeping with the overall expansion plan to increase the company's headcount to more than 3,000, in order to attain the ambitious goal of being among the top four semiconductor companies in China in the next four years.

Headquartered in Shanghai, Infineon Technologies China has already set up full operational, production and R&D competencies. Its presence in Xi'an and the following startup of its Xi'an IC Design Center will be of long-term strategic significance for strengthening the company's entire value chain and the talent pool and reserve in China. Infineon last year announced plans to invest more than US $ 1.2 billion in China within the next years.

To further foster local talents, Infineon is co-operating closely with two universities in Xi'an. Together with Xidian University the company will collaborate to develop a National IC Talent Incubation Base. Scholarships and training laboratories will also be set up by Infineon and Xi'an Jiaotong University and Xidian University.