Microsoft recently broke ground on a new research and development center in Beijing with an investment of US$280 million that will be its largest R&D center outside its United States headquarters, says a report in the Shanghai Daily.

The Microsoft China R&D Campus is scheduled to be completed in 2010 and will house thousands of researchers working on innovative technologies and creative products. "Through investments such as this, we are building on our capabilities as one of Microsoft's key global R&D centers and positioning the company to support the development of the local IT system," Zhang Yaqin, corporate vice president of Microsoft and chairman of Microsoft China, is quoted as saying.

The new facility will work on mobile and embedded technologies, Web technology products and services, digital entertainment, servers and tools and products for emerging markets.