Johnson & Johnson is closing its Quebec research center, according to a news report on Canada.com.

New Jersey-based J&J told employees at its Montreal R&D center the facility would shut down in March.

Approximately 126 people work at the center, including 36 J&J employees and 90 from a private placement agency hired on a contract basis, according to J&J Quebec spokesperson Laurent Pepin. They include technicians, engineers and support staff.

"Johnson & Johnson went through a strategic planning review of their research and development activities and decided they would focus on fewer R&D projects,'' Pepin said. "Projects that represent greater strategic opportunity for the company."