Huawei, the leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today announced the opening of a new research and development centre spread across two sites in Cork City and Dublin, Ireland. Huawei will create jobs for over 50 highly-skilled research professionals who will contribute a broad range of skills and expertise to the company’s global operations. Initially the centre will focus on Huawei’s next generation Customer Experience Management Product, SmartCare®, supporting the company in providing leading customer services to telecoms operators both in Ireland and internationally. Future expansion at the sites will extend R&D functions to cover a wider range of IT software projects.
The initiative, which represents a significant investment by Huawei over several years, is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland – the Government Agency responsible for the development of foreign direct investment in Ireland.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, said: “Huawei is one of the companies that I met on my recent trade mission to China and today’s announcement that they are opening a new research and development centre creating an additional 50 new jobs in Ireland is very welcome. International Information and Communications Technology (ICT) R&D is a key sector in the Action Plan for Jobs, and in the past 18 months we have implemented a number of changes to support expansion and job creation in this sector. In recent months we have seen some good news in this sector and the Government will continue to work hard on implementing the necessary changes to ensure that we can see further announcements like this in the near future.”
“Huawei Technologies is one of the most prominent brands in the global ICT sector,” said Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland. “This announcement is a vote of confidence in Ireland’s technological capability and strong track record in the ICT sector. Huawei Ireland has continued to expand its business since beginning its Irish operations over eight years ago. I wish Huawei Technologies every success in their operation in Cork and offer them continued and full support of the IDA,” he said.
Derek Ding, Managing Director of Huawei Ireland, said: ‘‘The new centre is a significant commitment to Ireland over the next three years, with many more highly-skilled jobs being created. It reflects a deep and long-term commitment to the country. Cork and Dublin were chosen for their well-educated, skilled workforce offering the high-quality of talent needed to provide the range of services needed for a strategic OSS R&D centre. Excitingly, the recruitment process has already begun and 12 positions have already been filled.
“Ireland has an open environment for overseas investment and the new R&D centre is a perfect fit for our continued growth here. We are pleased to be collaborating with the IDA and I want to thank them for their support in this venture.”
Huawei is a leading global ICT solutions provider and the investment will strengthen the company’s R&D capabilities, augmenting over 70,000 employees currently engaged in R&D worldwide.
Huawei was first established its Irish sales office in 2004 and currently employs over 140,000 people globally, including 40 people presently in Ireland. Customers include Eircom, O2 Ireland, BT Ireland, VDF Ireland, H3G Ireland.
