General Electric plans to open a research and development center this month at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University, or UFRJ, Technology Park, boosting the facility's reputation as one of the world's top R&D hubs.

"GE, one of the largest multinationals, will have in Rio de Janeiro a team of 160 researchers dedicated to developing innovations in areas such as oil and gas, energy, aviation and turbines," UFRJ Technology Park director Mauricio Guedes told Efe.