Nokia is set to make its “steepest job cuts in 20 years,” as the company slims-down its research and development activities in preparation for its closer alliance with Microsoft, Bloomberg reports. The move is set to be announced before the end of this month, and “as many as 6,000” jobs are in danger, according to Pro, Finland’s biggest private sector, white-collar union. This figure means that almost 40 percent of Nokia’s global devices R&D workforce could be culled. The news is perhaps unsurprising, with Nokia noting in its 2010 annual report that “the implementation of our new strategy and the proposed partnership with Microsoft is expected to have a significant impact on our operations and personnel, including substantial reductions in personnel following the appropriate consultations.”

Nokia has not so-far put a number on the jobs at risk, nor stated where the cuts will be made. According to Bloomberg, morale at the company is already low, with labour union YTN noting earlier reorganisations in the R&D unit (2009) and Symbian businesses (2010). Nokia is scheduled to release its latest quarterly results next week, and is likely to face pressure to clarify its position with regard to job cuts, and to provide an update on its talks with Microsoft. More positively, Reuters reports that Intel is bolstering its R&D activities in Finland, noting that this company worked with Nokia on the development of the MeeGo device platform until Nokia revamped its OS strategy in February 2011. Google and Skype are also believed to be interested in recruiting engineering staff from Nokia.