MADISON, Wis. -- Microsoft plans to open a laboratory in Madison this spring as part of a partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison computer science department.

Retired UW-Madison computer scientist David DeWitt will run the lab in downtown Madison. DeWitt is considered one of the world leaders in database research, and the lab will focus on developing database systems.

The lab is expected to open with six full-time employees, but Dewitt said that he would like it to grow to 10 or 20 scientists in coming years.

Microsoft will pay graduate students to do research at the lab, which is also expected to provide internships for students and consulting opportunities for faculty.