IT services firm, Satyam Computer Services, is increasing its investment plans in Australia with a new 25 acre state-of-the-art campus in Geelong, Victoria.

Victorian Premier, John Brumby, and Satyam's CEO Rama Raju, officially opened the campus at Deakin University earlier today. The campus will be Satyam's largest outside India and will be a reflection of the company's headquarters in Hyderabad.

A site for learning as well as commercial work, it will recruit over 2000 employees over the next few years.

A range of collaborative initiatives with Deakin University have also been announced to source talent for the campus. Satyam CEO, Rama Raju, said the initiative will nurture local ICT talent in Victoria and throughout Australia. The Satyam Campus will house a software development centre and facilities for training, research and development. B. Rama Raju, Satyam's co-founder and managing director, said the Geelong campus is an important component of the company's long-term initiative to build new centres of excellence in strategic locations, around the globe.

"The creation of this new technology and learning campus is central to the company's philosophy that people need an atmosphere that nurtures their diversity, intelligence and curiosity," he said.

"Geelong was selected as the location for its highly skilled ICT talent, excellent infrastructure and transport links to Melbourne.

"The support of the Victorian Government, the Geelong City Council and the collaboration activities with Deakin University directly influenced our decision" Officially announcing the project at Deakin University's Geelong campus, Premier Brumby said the company's decision to locate its new development centre locally was a boost for the Victorian economy. "Economic modelling estimates that the Satyam Technology and Learning Centre will significantly boost Victoria's economy," Brumby said. As part of this initiative, Satyam will engage in a range of collaborative activities with Deakin including staff exchange, a work integrated learning program for students, a graduate employment program, joint research activities, and scholarships. Satyam Australia has a presence across the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra with a diverse workforce of over 1400 associates serving Australia.

Satyam has directed its focus to local employment generation and today over 42 per cent of associates in Australia are local nationals.