Chinese smartphone maker OPPO broke ground with its new research and development (R&D) center in southern Chinese city of Dongguan on Wednesday.

With a total investment of 2.2 billion yuan (about 324 million U.S. dollars), the center will focus on developing and testing smartphones and their accessories. It is expected to be put into operation in 2024.

"After the center is operational, it will take up the strategic role of leading OPPO's technological development," said Zhu Gaoling, executive president of OPPO.

In the first quarter this year, OPPO, together with another Chinese brand Vivo, co-ranked fifth in the global smartphone market share, after Samsung, Huawei, Apple and Xiaomi, according to research firm IDC.