Intel Corp. on Monday announced the company would invest 2,300 million pesos ($177 million) over 3 years to expand Intel's Guadalajara Design Center (GDC). The investment will focus on increasing technology development activities, staffing and technology and education initiatives that support the National Digital Plan.

The Intel GDC focuses on the design, testing and validation of integrated circuits and other hardware, and education software technologies used in Intel products sold globally. The expansion will include the construction of a new building for technical labs, office space, a technology museum for children and an IT lab to support small- and medium-sized businesses. In addition, approximately 150 additional technical jobs will be created over the next 3 years, bringing the total number of GDC engineers to 550.

The new campus will adhere to world-class design and construction standards and to minimize its impact on the environment. For example, it will seek leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) certification, which provides independent, third-party verification that a building meets the highest green building and performance measures.

The GDC is Intel's largest site in Mexico and where all its technology development activities in Mexico are based. Since it was established 10 years ago, it has grown from 33 employees to over 400 value-added jobs. In addition to technology development activities, the GDC also has several initiatives in place at local universities aimed at fostering the region's technical talent pool. Nearly 100 undergraduate students have participated in these programs in the past 18 months.

"As a global computing leader, we believe that investing in the future of discovery is an essential business decision. Our team in Mexico will continue to help us do this. This new investment today extends our long-term commitment to Mexico. The highly technical work being done at our research center here has been extraordinary, and today we are taking it to a new level,” said Paul Otellini, chief executive officer of Intel.

Tags: Intel