€1.2million Cloud Computing Investment Announced

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., has announced details of the €1.2million initial research programme in the Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre, aimed at helping to make Ireland a world leader in this fast-growing area, and at making a significant contribution to jobs and economic growth.

Cloud computing is a key target sector identified in the Action Plan for Jobs as offering major potential for Ireland, and establishing a Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre is one of the major actions contained in the plan aimed at realising this potential.

The funding will be allocated over 12 months to a consortium of Higher Education Institutions to carry out the initial research programme of Centre.

Led by Dublin City University, the research consortium which includes University College Cork, and Athlone Institute of Technology with input from the Innovation Value Institute at NUIM, will use the funding provided by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through Enterprise Ireland to work with a group of software companies to establish ways to generate business and profit from cloud computing.

The four principal areas into which research will be carried out are:

· cloud computing technology architecture, including design, configuration and operation

· service management – cloud computing is now regarded as a utility service for organisations of all sizes, and there is need therefore for new methods and tools for designing, developing, releasing, maintaining and managing cloud-based applications and services

· business research – organisational and business models are as important as technology for cloud service providers

· cloud security – providing security is a key component in building trust in cloud-based services to ensure a quality user experience

Making the announcement today, Minister Bruton said: "A key part of this Government’s plan for growth and jobs is identifying areas where we believe Ireland has distinct advantages compared to other countries, and taking steps necessary to ensure that we realise our potential in those areas. Cloud computing is one such sector, and the Government believes that between our climate, skills base, telecoms connectivity and existing strengths in ICT, we have the potential to reap substantial benefits in terms of jobs and growth from the global expansion of this sector.

"However this growth won’t happen automatically, and through the Action Plan for Jobs we will implement a series of measures to encourage the growth of the sector. Today I am very pleased to announce the initial programme of industry-led research in the Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre.

"This Centre will follow international best practice in bringing academic researchers together with industry so as to ensure that our research strengths are targeted at answering questions that will help companies create viable business ideas and ultimately jobs in this area."

(GK)