E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. today announced that it will be expanding its Johnston-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. business in Europe, opening new research centers in Italy and Hungary.

The research centers are an investment of more than $5 million, and 10 new research positions will be created by the opening of the new centers, which will add to the existing 25 research employees who will be transferring from other Pioneer locations.

“DuPont is aggressively investing in research and development to increase farmer productivity and extend our leadership position in corn, sunflower and oilseed rape in Europe,” said William Niebur, vice president of DuPont crop genetics research and development, in a release.

Pioneer has increased its research investment in Europe by more than 10 percent in 2008, and in addition to the new facilities, Pioneer has also expanded research plots by 25 percent and added 36 employees.

The Hungarian research center, located in the southeastern city of Hodmezovasarhely, will expand the current comprehensive breeding, testing and disease characterization programs for sunflowers. Whereas the Italian research center, located in north central Italy in Pessina Cremonese, will expand maturity coverage and strengthen disease and agronomic trait characterization through field and molecular approaches.