Data management company Asystec is to invest more than €2 million in innovation labs in Ireland to support the company's growth in data analytics, security and IT transformation.

The company will deploy the innovation labs in Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Belfast, and will be recruiting in the coming 18 months to further grow its team of data scientists, security analysts and big data architects.

The company said more than €225,000 would be invested in each of the four innovation labs, and each lab would create employment. A further €1 million would go towards generating 20 new jobs.

Asystec managing director Les Byrne said the infrastructure investment would meet the demand for data management solutions for the Irish and UK market, and would enable customers to transition from first and second IT platforms to the third platform.

He said the mainframe computer was considered in tech terms at the first platform, while the second platform was the personal computer (PC).

“We are now in the next revolution phase to the third platform which is built on mobile computing, social networking, cloud services and big data analytics technology, “ he said.

“We are currently involved in data analytics projects in China and the US, as well as the UK, Northern Ireland and Ireland.”

He said the innovation labs would provide a unique “thinking factory” style experience for Asystec clients.

This would enable critical and creative offsite thinking to achieve innovation in the use of big data, data analysis and strategic business development relating to information existing and information required in the company.

Founded in 2011 by Mr Byrne and Brendan McPhillips, Asystec now employs 18 in Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Belfast. The company designs IT solutions to assist companies to manage, secure and identify their key data assets.