Executive director of DuPont India, a subsidiary of $29 billion E.I. Du Pont de Nemours, Shankar Krishnan said the centre is expected to be operational next year. Basic R&D would be conducted at the centre.

"Bulk of the research and development is now being conducted in the US; some work will be shifted to India", he said. This is in addition to the center carrying out R&D efforts to meet specific requirements of the Indian market.

DuPont offers a range of products and services for markets, including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation. It has six manufacturing facilities in India in three sites -- Baroda, Madurai and Hyderabad.

DuPont has close to 700 employees in India and is growing at more than 25 per cent every year, officials said.

Krishnan said the parent company is betting on India, China and Brazil for growth, adding, it has also started sourcing essential materials from India for global products.

DuPont India on Wednesday announced the opening of DuPont Refinish Training Centre here - where it would focus on three major DuPont brands 'Centari', 'LE' and 'Standox' --, its second such facility in the country after the one in Baroda.

The RTC here would cater to customers - mainly workshop and body shop outlets of leading carmakers based in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.