Employment in the Capital Region’s high-tech research and development industry last summer surpassed an 18-year high.

The region averaged 7,825 workers in the physical/engineering/biological research industry. This is according to the Center for Economic Growth’s analysis of new data from the New York State Department of Labor. That is a 7% increase from the year before.

More jobs and research and development spending are on the way with IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electric and others partnering for a $10 billion, next-generation semiconductor center at the Albany Nanotech Complex.

The partnership will fund construction of a 50,000-square-foot facility at the complex.