Companies such as HP and Dell are the world’s top sellers of PCs, but most of the actual hardware — about 80 per cent of all laptops — is made by Taiwan firms including Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics.

“Microsoft and HP solution centres will help advance the technology of our Taiwanese business partners and corporate clients,” John Knutsen, Director of Global Microsoft Technology Centre, said at a news conference here.

Microsoft said the centre would be focused on investing in advanced software, hardware and improving technical support to its Taiwan partners. The two companies said they expect the new centre will be able to generate a return of T$2.5 billion ($83 million) worth of sales in five years.

There are now 16 Microsoft technology centres in the world, including in Dubai, France, Germany, Britain, Bangalore and the United States, said Knutsen.