JAPAN'S Omron Corp, a global leader in automation, sensing and control technology, has opened a US$9.7 million collaborative innovation center in Shanghai, its first major research and development facility outside Japan, according to a company statement.

Omron said it will gradually move its R&D projects to the center and will cooperate with many universities here, including Jiao Tong University. The center is located in Shanghai Zizhu Science-based Technology Park.