Ericsson Builds On Successful Operations In Athlone

An international provider of technology and services to telecom operators is taking on an additional 100 software engineers at the Research & Development facility in Athlone to support both local and regional remits.

Ericsson will be expanding its skill base in intelligent Network Management.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton commented: “Today’s announcement that a world-leading communications company is strengthening its R&D activities in Ireland is a great vote of confidence in our policies. I am currently developing plans to further enhance our support for multi-national R&D investments, and to ensure that Irish firms can learn from the vast experience in this area to create the companies of the future here.”

Welcoming the announcement Chief Executive Officer IDA Ireland, Barry O’Leary, said: “Ericsson plays a huge role in the economic life of the Midlands and already employs a substantial number of people in Athlone. The addition of 100 highly skilled jobs to the Midlands gateway is very welcome news by a leading technology company such as Ericsson and this emphasises the quality of the skilled workforce available and the pro-business environment here”.

Bruton added: "If we are to get the economy growing and create the jobs of the future here in Ireland, we must ensure that we are providing all possible support to R&D projects by both Irish and multinational companies here. In last month's Jobs Initiative we announced a simple, technical, revenue-neutral change to the R&D tax credit which makes it much cheaper and more attractive for multinationals to locate R&D facilities in Ireland and to employ researchers here”.

Leading the way in global best practices in R&D and product development, Ericsson is ensuring the working environment facilitates this and is also undertaking a major upgrade of the facilities in Athlone.

(BMcN)