Intel is spending $12m on a graphics research lab in Germany.

The five-year investment will look at how multiple core processors can produce more realistic graphics and better user interfaces.

The Intel Visual Computing Institute is at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany and opens today.

By the end of the year it should have about a dozen staff - this should go up to about 70 over the five year project. The centre will also work with other academics and businesses.

Full release here.

Today is also the day Intel hears the verdict of European competition regulators. A guilty verdict, and very large fine, are widely expected. We'll have more on the verdict later. ®