Information technology giant IBM will partner with Michigan State University (MSU) to open a global delivery center for application services at the university's East Lansing, Michigan, campus. A joint statement from IBM and the Michigan governor's office says the project is expected to create 100 new jobs this year and up to 1,500 direct and indirect jobs, including construction positions, over the next five years. Workers at the new center will work to modernize outdated information technology systems for state and local government agencies and universities. "This project demonstrates Michigan's pledge to use technology to improve agency services, as well as a commitment to create highly skilled job opportunities for its citizens," says Charles L. Prow, an IBM managing partner. The New York-headquartered company says it will move into existing space on the MSU campus and begin operations there by June.