This week Roche Diagnostics, a Swiss-based pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company, will break ground on a $300 million expansion at its 160 acre North American headquarters located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana, with plans to create 100 jobs by 2017.

The first phase of the project is a new Learning and Development Center. The capital investment at its Indianapolis campus, located at 9115 Hague Road, will include refurbishing of the facility, adding manufacturing equipment for new diabetes care test strips and upgrading of information technology equipment to support the company’s growing diagnostics and diabetes care businesses.

The campus is home to the corporation’s North American research and development division, sales and marketing, manufacturing, distribution, information technology and other support divisions.

When the expansion was first announced Gov Mitch Daniels said; "Roche's continued growth has shown that Indiana is the epicenter for the life sciences industry and the premier state for growing an innovative business." Today, the company employs nearly 3,000 Hoosiers and more than 4,200 associates nationwide.

"As the leader in the in-vitro diagnostics industry, we're proud to be a part of the growing life sciences movement in central Indiana," said Jack Phillips, president and chief executive officer of Roche Diagnostics. "We appreciate the partnership from the city and state as we look to increase jobs and enhance our Indianapolis campus facilities. The bottom line is we’re here to stay and committed to being the best place to work in Indiana."

As an incentive, this summer, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. up to $2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $300,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based. In addition the city of Indianapolis will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of Develop Indy.