U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) today praised Boeing’s decision to establish a technology research center in Missouri that the company said would create 300-400 new jobs in the St. Louis area. The announcement is not related to Missouri’s efforts to land a production facility for the company’s 777X jetliner.

The company said it will restructure its Boeing Research & Technology organization, the company's central research-and-development unit, through the establishment of research centers in Huntsville, Ala.; Southern California; St. Louis; North Charleston, S.C.; and Seattle.

Boeing said the new research centers will consolidate technology development of strategic importance to Boeing over the long-term – up to 30 years into the future. They will be chartered to accelerate technical capability in specific fields and enhance and build networks of collaboration with university, industry and government research centers around the world.

“I am extremely pleased that Boeing will be establishing a technology research center in St. Louis and by doing so will create 300 to 400 new jobs for Missourians,” Luetkemeyer said. “Missouri has a long partnership with Boeing and we look forward to building on that partnership with this new technology research center.”

The Boeing announcement can be found at http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2013-12-12-Boeing-Realigns-Research-Technology-Unit-for-Growth-and-Productivity