Technology company IBM is to create up to 200 jobs in Dublin over the next three years at a new research centre.
The €66 million development in its Smarter Cities Technology Centre, which will be located at IBM's Mulhuddart site, is being assisted by the IDA.
The centre aims to design systems that will help cities manage and connect transport links, communications infrastructure and water and energy networks.
As part of the centre's work, a team of experts will collaborate with city authorities, universities, and businesses, as well as experts from IBM Research and the company's Software Development Lab in Ireland, to research and commercialise ways of making city systems more connected, sustainable and intelligent.
The announcement was made this morning by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe, on his first official day in his new portfolio.
"The decision taken by IBM underscores the Irish Government's commitment to providing an environment where industry and academia can collaborate to create economic growth through innovation and through research," he said.
"This particular project illustrates how IDA Ireland working with globally integrated businesses such as IBM can help create the Irish smart economy while also assisting highly innovative companies such as IBM to achieve their business goals."
The new jobs will be highly skilled positions in research and development and software development.
"It's a good start and I think the important thing about today is the smart economy we're trying to develop and the industry that was announced today ties in and knits in with that particular economy," he said.
"Looking at the graduates that are going to be employed there, 65 per cent will be PhDs, and this is the type of industry we want to develop and continue to grow in Ireland."
The event was also attended by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan. Mr Ryan welcomed the announcement of IBM's investment.
"This is the new economy, this is growth that is actually sustainable," he said.
"We're doing well in Governemnt, delivering jobs. And it's not just these smart jobs, it's all the other jobs that come on the back of it. It's the confidence that comes, that one of the most significant investment available at this present time, where did it come? It came to Ireland."
