PENANG: Agilent Technologies is investing US$100mil (RM350mil) to set up an Innovation Centre that would make Malaysia a global beacon of technology and innovation.

Agilent Malaysia & Singapore president Gooi Soon Chai said the centre was in line with its vision to be a premier innovation hub with an integrated ecosystem for measurement technology.

"The innovation hub will be well supported with world-class laboratory infrastructure.

"We will collaborate with local universities and government agencies to build a strong technology ecosystem through knowledge and technology development.

"We are keen in creating and nurturing constellation of design partners," he said after Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon opened the Agilent Innovation Centre in Bayan Lepas here Thursday.

The centre would generate a research and development (R&D) and technology innovation ecosystem for electronic design clusters from companies that are capable of supporting world-class technology consumers, he said.

"Although we have set a three-year timeframe, we are hoping that the centre would be fully operational faster," he said, adding that Agilent had built a strong foundation in Penang.

Gooi said Agilent had already employed 1,000 engineers, including PhD holders.

"We are planning to employ 100 more R&D engineers in the near future. We also have local partners who have their own pool of engineers," he said.