The world’s largest shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Monday that its Shanghai-based Global Research and Development Center began operations this month.

According to the company, the R&D center will first focus on developing new products and technologies in areas concerning Hyundai Heavy’s current operations in China including construction equipment and engines. In the long term, the center will move on to developing products with growing markets such as robot systems, maritime wind power and smart grids.

The company said that it will begin a major investment once the center is moved to the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai in June.

The center is now hiring about 30 researchers, and plans to increase the number of researchers to 120 by next year, the company said.

In 2013, the center will be expanded to include five separate research labs operated by 200 researchers, the company said.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)