Sky's The Limit With IBM's Cloud Computing

Innovative 'cloud computing' is coming to Ireland - thanks to IBM.

The need for cloud computing - which allows 'communities' of business professionals to be assembled into social networks to facilitate the development of new business ideas - is fuelled by a dramatic growth in business collaboration, connected devices, real-time data streams, and Internet applications such as streaming media and entertainment, social networking and mobile commerce.

Europe's first Cloud Computing Centre is being set up by IBM - with the support of IDA Ireland - with more than 20 new jobs to be created, nine of which will be focused on research in the area of cloud computing.

IBM has also agreed to facilitate cloud computing training for lecturers at the Dublin Institute of Technology's School of Computing.

The training will help the school to foster new skills that meet the needs of this emerging computing model.

The new centre is to be located at the IBM Innovation Campus at Mulhuddart and will serve as a European hub to provide research and services to a number of satellite facilities to be built in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

IBM experts will work directly with clients in the region, helping them adopt cloud computing solutions that spur technology research and business development.

Commenting, the Republic's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Martin said: "The selection of Ireland as the location for IBM's European hub for cloud computing highlights Ireland's role as an important contributor to IBM's global research, development and innovation strategy.

"The investment further establishes IBM Ireland's growing reputation as a high performance computing centre within IBM Corporation. IDA Ireland and IBM have a proactive long-standing relationship in advancing the Irish business and the implementation of strategic high value knowledge based research and development investments."

Steve Mills, Senior Vice President and Group Executive, IBM Software Group commented: "Our investments in cloud computing are a prime example of how IBM is seeking out emerging global market opportunities and new computing models that benefit IBM clients.

"Through this new facility and the cloud computing model, the wealth of talent at IBM's software lab in Ireland will be accessible to not only the rest of Europe, but Africa and the Middle East as well."

(BMcC)