Bangalore: Information Technology major Infosys on Tuesday (Nov 2, 2004) signed an agreement with Australian company Smart Internet Technology CRC to partner in research and development projects.

Under the agreement signed by Infosys chief mentor, N R Narayana Murthy and chairman of Smart Internet Technology, Neville Roach the two firms would cooperate in research and development initiatives and other development projects, a Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) release said.

"This is the major investment by an Indian information technology company in a research institution in Australia," Roach said.

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, who was also present during the signing of the agreement, invited Indian companies to invest in the region in a big way.

Smart Internet develops new technologies in the smart Internet arena, carrying out research into disruptive Internet technologies that have global commercial opportunity.