It is planning to add another 30 software developers every year to work on products like its popular AutoCAD 3D design software, at its new 5,125 sqm R&D centre at Fusionopolis.

It currently employes 400 staff here, 140 of whom are software developers.

The US-based company's chief executive, Mr Carl Bass, announced its expansion plans in Singapore, which is one of Autodesk's 'bigger' R&D hubs around the world, at the official opening of its Fusionopolis facility on Tuesday.

The company has about 2,500 software developers in some 25 locations around the world. In Asia, Singapore's R&D facility is a distant second to its Shanghai facility which houses 1,100 software developers.

As part of its planned expansion here, Autodesk is looking for another 5,500 sqm site near its current Fusionopolis facility, said Mr Bass.

The company has another office in Ngee Ann City, which is used primarily for administrative, sales and marketing activities.

The company started R&D work five years ago with only five software developers.

Economic Development Board chairman Lim Siong Guan, who was the guest of honour at Tuesday's event, said Autodesk's new facility is expected to contribute 'high-value jobs' and 'know-how' to Singapore.

It also demonstrated that Singapore's strategy to attract investment - a strong intellectual property regime and a global talent pool - was working well, he said.

Last year, about 2.6 per cent of Singapore's GDP went into R&D, said Mr Lim, and the Government hopes to raise this to 3 per cent by 2010.