An official from the computer chip maker Intel yesterday announced the establishment of the Intel China Lab, an umbrella programme for Intel's research and development (R&D) organizations in China, at a press conference in Beijing.

Craig Barrett, president and CEO of Intel, also announced the expansion of the Intel Internet Exchange Architecture Academic Programme to China, which is designed to increase the adoption and use of telecommunications and networking technologies in China.

"China is emerging as a key location for Intel's R&D efforts," said Barrett. "R&D will help power the Internet economy in China by accelerating the adoption of key technologies and supporting the growth of Chin's computing and Internet markets."

Focusing on both basic and applied research, the Intel China Lab will provide a means to co-ordinate and enhance Intel's research efforts in China.

Over the past five years, Intel has established three major research and development organizations in China: the Intel China Research Centre, which focuses on human-computer interface research; the Intel China Software Labs, which develops system software for Intel products; and the Intel Architecture Labs, an applications development organization.

China, as the biggest Internet and telecom market of the future, is looked upon as a place of great potential by most of the world's leading IT players and most of them have established R&D centres or labs in China.

Also at the press conference yesterday, Barrett announced that Intel's worldwide Internet Exchange Architecture Academic Programme is being expanded to take in China.

(China Daily)