BANGALORE: The world's third largest integrated oil company, Royal Dutch Shell, announced that Bangalore would be the location for its latest technology center. At present, the company has major research and development (R&D) facilities in Houston and at Rijswijk & Amsterdam. The company said, Bangalore would be the third key location for Royal Dutch Shell technology. The center will deliver high-end technical studies, projects, and services for Shell across the globe, as well as supporting interests in India. The services will span upstream exploration and production activities as well as downstream refinery and chemical operations. Commenting on this, Shell Companies in India?s Chairman, Vikram Singh Mehta said, ?This center will commence as an equal player in Shell global technical networks, fully integrated in their work programs. Under the guidance of its new president, Bob Frith, this center aims to be world class, capable of producing leading-edge technical solutions to meet critical business challenges and to develop products that will be key to the future of the energy business.? The center is expected to be operational by the second half of 2006 and will move to a propose-built campus in 2009. Shell Global?s President, Greg Lewin said, ?We are looking for the best talent. The attraction and retention of top Indian technical talent has been a major driver in establishing STI, and the company aims to grow to over 1000 people as quickly as the business will allow.? The new technology center will contribute to the oil industry knowledge infrastructure in India. It will open doors for Indian graduates to work on assignments in India and around the world. The Technology center will look to establish close links with industry and academia. As part of this program Shell is starting a joint project with the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, in the area of seismic processing as well as discussing different projects with other IIT's.