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Novellus starts India centre, boosts R&D

Semiconductor equipment maker Novellus Systems Inc launched its software centre in India on Wednesday and said it planned to boost global research despite an industry slowdown.

"We have always invested aggressively in downturns," Jeffrey Benzing, executive vice-president of the California-based company, told a news conference.

"We should maintain a flat revenue, and 20 to 25 per cent growth in research and development expenditure," he said, referring to the current calendar year. The company spent $200 million on R&D last year, he said.

The centre in India, which would have 60 people by the end of this year, will offer technical support to global customers on machine control software, develop advanced software and help in quality testing.

Benzing said the company's US and Indian would be integrated to help round-the-clock work and boost efficiency.

Novellus, which specialises in film deposition technologies that aid semiconductor manufacturers, competes with firms like Applied Materials Inc.

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