Hitachi announced on January 17, 2011 that the company will increase the number of its overseas researchers to over 300 in fiscal year 2012, according to the Japan Today. It is reported that the company also plans to integrate its eight R&D units into three. In a bid to strengthen the company's operations in Asia, Hitachi is projected to build a new R&D center in India in 2011, aiming to enhance the company's ties with local research institutes. The new R&D base in India is expected to focus on information technology research.