'Big Data' Research Center To Open In Cambridge

5/31 Update: See here for Curt's Morning Edition feature on the center.

Original post:

Chip-maker Intel Corp. is teaming up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to open a new research and development center in Cambridge for the growing field of "big data."

Here's WBUR's Curt Nickisch, reporting for our Newscast unit:

The amount of digital data — the social media posts, the reams of online transactions — is growing incredibly fast. And databases are getting so monstrous that dealing with them effectively is challenging.

That’s why MIT is teaming up with Intel and four other tech companies, including Massachusetts’ own EMC Corp., to develop a cutting-edge research center. The multimillion-dollar investment will fund dozens of researchers. The goal is to create new technologies and new big data businesses.

Massachusetts leaders, including Gov. Deval Patrick, will also be on hand Wednesday afternoon to announce new state programs designed to make Greater Boston a cluster for the field of big data.

“This is about the realization that big data is a very promising growth area,” Greg Bialecki, state secretary of housing and economic development, told the Boston Globe. “The state is well positioned to take the lead in this area.”

BostInno adds this:

Massachusetts has more than 100 big data companies, according to MassTLC, and the sector is expected to more than double over the next six years, adding an estimated 15,000 jobs.