GE to open research center in Detroit area - paper

BOSTON, June 25 (Reuters) - General Electric Co (GE.N) plans to open a research and development center in the Detroit area, the Detroit Free Press reported on Thursday.

The paper said the center would employ about 1,200 people, citing a person with knowledge of GE's discussions as its source. A GE spokesman declined comment.

Jeff Immelt, chief executive of the largest U.S. conglomerate, is scheduled to address the Detroit Economic Club on Friday.

GE has research centers in Niskayuna, New York; Bangalore, Shanghai and Munich.

GE has a $55 million stake in A123 Systems Inc, which Detroit automakers General Motors Corp GMGMQ.PK and Chrysler have chosen to supply lithium-ion batteries for their next-generation electric vehicles. (Reporting by Scott Malone, editing by Dave Zimmerman)