To mark the 20th anniversary of its presence in France, Georgia Tech is expanding its presence in the northeast part of that country.

The Lafayette Institute, a new resource center for industry and academic research laboratories, is set to be built at Georgia Tech-Lorraine in Metz. It will focus on technologies at the intersection of materials, optics, photonics, electronics and nanotechnology.

French authorities will finance 23 million euros, or roughly $31 million, to create the institute.

Georgia Tech's campus in France offers global research and internship opportunities, and year-round undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs.

Tags: education, Georgia Tech, France