Cisco Systems will open a Tokyo-based research and development center focusing on Internet software and routing technologies in February 2005, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The company will initially invest $12 million over five years in the center, which will employ 10 engineers working on development of the company's Internetwork Operating System (IOS) and IOS XR software, routers, IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), and wireless technologies, the company said.

The opening of the center comes after the company won several major contracts for its software and equipment based on the CRS-1 system from Japanese customers
