BANGALORE: Global Software giant Microsoft opened it's research center in Bangalore for conducting long-term basic and applied research in the area of computer science and software engineering.

At the Inauguration function, union minister of state for science, technology and ocean development Kapil Sibal garced the occassion.

MSRI will begin research in multilingual systems, technologies for emerging markets, geographic information systems and sensor networks.

An MOU has been signed with the government of India for partnering in science and technology research projects. During the first year around two dozen scientists, support staff and interns will be employed full time.

Microsoft already has research facilities in two other countries- UK and China, besides the US.