General Electric Co. (Fairfield, CT) officially opened its new European Global Research Center in Garching, near Munich, Germany. The state-of-the-art, 10,000 m² facility is the latest addition to GE's $4 billion worldwide technology development effort.
By 2005, the new European Global Research Center will be home to 150 scientists and engineers, who will develop technology to support GE's future growth. Scientists at the center will conduct advanced research into enabling technologies for future products and services, working closely with the GE businesses to define the future technological needs of the company's European customers.
The center will focus on four main research areas: Alternative energy generation technologies, particularly hydrogen, biomass and fuel cells; electrical systems for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and water; specialized sensors for automotive, biological and harsh environment applications; and advanced medical imaging technologies, such as ultrasound, high field magnetic resonance imaging and molecular imaging.
