A cloud computing company with close ties to some of the area’s largest technology employers is planning an expansion that will double its operations in Research Triangle Park over the next year, bringing about 50 new engineering jobs to the area.

VCE Company, which began as a joint venture of Cisco, EMC and VMWare to incorporate the three companies’ technology into one system, has leased 31,000 square feet of office space in the Research Triangle in a move that establishes RTP as one of the company’s three engineering hubs, alongside Boston and the Silicon Valley.

The company’s local workforce of 50 people, mostly engineers, will double to about a hundred employees over the next year, said Rick Lacroix, communications director. VCE’s Triangle engineers focus on developing new software and assisting customers. The company has over 1,000 employees worldwide.

The county Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider giving drug company Merck $2 million in economic incentives to expand its Durham facility, adding 150 to 180 jobs. (The full agenda for Monday should be posted soon.)

County staffers have recommended that the board approve the proposal. The board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at its chambers on the second floor of 200 E. Main St., and then they'll vote.