Intel Corp says it plans to invest $50m in an information technology research center based in China over the next five years. The Intel Research Center will be based in Beijing, and carry out internet-related research as it relates to Chinese language applications. Intel Corp chairman Andy Grove announced the news at a press conference in Beijing yesterday. Intel already operates the Intel Architecture Development Co in Shanghai, working on Chinese software development, and Grove is set to launch its $200m flash memory testing and assembly plant in Shanghai later this week. Weakness in the Asian markets was cited as one of the reasons for the slowdown in Intel’s revenues last year (CI No 3,325). But Grove said the China investment was long term, and said that China was likely to emerge as the world’s second or third largest market for personal computers.
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