A US electronics firm is set to create 52 new jobs by locating a £10 million manufacturing operation in west Belfast, it was announced today.
The IceMOS Technology Corporation plans to make components for the semi-conductor industry in a three-year operation based at Hannahstown Hill.
Research links with Queen's University which could lead to new environmentally-friendly devices being developed at the Belfast facility are also planned.
Bosses from the Delaware-based company were lured to Northern Ireland after Invest NI offered to pay more than a third of the project cost.
Mr Leslie Morrison, chief executive of Invest NI, insisted the announcement proved the North could compete on the global stage.
He said: "This investment will retain highly skilled labour in Northern Ireland, and further underline Northern Ireland's capability to deliver leading edge technology developments in the electronics sector.
"The project fits with our overall economic development strategy of wealth creation through the sustained growth of knowledge-based industries and is precisely the type of inward investment that Invest NI is seeking to attract."
He added: "IceMOS Technology's focus on high value-added activities and export markets, together with a strong research and development interest, will make it an important role model."
The jobs creation agency has offered IceMOS selective financial assistance of STG £3.5m towards the total STG £9.6m bill for moving in and setting up at an existing factory site.
As well as manufacturing, some of the money will go towards studies on super junction technology. This work will be undertaken in association with the Semiconductor Research Centre at Queen's.
Sam Anderson, chief executive of IceMOS Technology, revealed that the quality of workforce available had been a big incentive.
He said: "We know that we can recruit highly skilled and experienced engineers in Northern Ireland and believe that offers us the opportunity to greatly advance our super-junction technology research and development.
"This technology is used in building advanced power semiconductor devices that can handle more power and operate at higher switching frequency than conventional silicon high-voltage power devices.
"It offers improved energy efficiency and environmental benefits and has enormous future sales potential."
PA News