Microsoft to open $100M tech center in Brazil
The software giant collaborates with the Brazilian government and invests millions of dollars in the country's technology sector.
Microsoft is spreading its reach to South America with plans to invest roughly $100 million in a technology center based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to Agencia Estado.
The center will have support from the Brazilian government, but the lion's share of funding will come from Microsoft. It's unclear exactly what the center will do, such as develop products, train Brazilians, act as a research hub, or something else.
According to The Next Web, Microsoft also invested $5 million in its Sao Paulo outpost earlier this year but the Rio de Janeiro center is a far bigger project. The software giant also has tech centers in Germany, Israel, and Egypt.
Microsoft has been involved with Brazil for years. In 2008, it initiated a project that helped expand Internet cafes across the country giving more people access to the Web. It also added educational and job-training components to that project.
According to Agencia Estado, several other tech companies also have plans to open centers in Brazil, including a new research hub from Intel.
CNET contacted Microsoft for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.