Software company to set up research centre in Belfast

Invest Northern Ireland has today announced that the world's leading provider of business software solutions, SAP AG, has chosen to locate its first UK research centre in Belfast.

SAP will be supported by Invest NI and is set to invest £1.5 million into the centre to carry out cutting-edge research in the field of grid computing.

SAP employs approximately 30,000 people in more than 50 countries worldwide and has a turnover of over $7billion.

Seven research jobs at PhD level will initially be created when the centre officially opens its doors in the city.

Jeremy Fitch, Managing Director of Business International, Invest NI, said: "Belfast offers a wealth of relevant expertise particularly through the University of Ulster and Queen’s University, a leader in grid computing research worldwide.

“The project is highly innovative and the knowledge developed in Belfast will put Northern Ireland in a very strong position to attract similar foreign ICT investments.”

Invest NI is supporting the investment via its Start programme, which should help to increase the amount of research undertaken by companies either on their own or in partnership with the universities.

Mr Fitch continued: “One of Invest NI’s goals is to build on the world class research in our universities by attracting inward investment from world class technology companies such as SAP.

“In addition, we aim to support the development of higher value-added products. This investment will create significant academic-industrial linkages and help to commercialise academic knowledge.”

Wolfgang Gerteis, Director of the SAP Research Campus-based Engineering Centre in Belfast, said that the Belfast CEC will be focusing on grid computing and are looking forward to working with the local universities to make the significant advances in this area.

(EF/SP)