Derry Gets Major Seagate Investment

It has just been announced that a package of investments totalling approximately £60m is to be made in Londonderry.

Centred on its plant at Springtown, Seagate Technology's investment of £47.3m will be enhanced with grants totalling £12.7m from Invest Northern Ireland.

The funding will be focused on Research & Development, substantially enhancing the importance and technical relevance of the Springtown operation and increasing R&D related jobs there by 85.

A further 10 related research posts will be created with an innovative collaboration with Queen's University Belfast.

Local man, Brian Burns (pictured) who took up his post as Vice President of Operations, Springtown just this month said: "I am delighted to start my official duties at the Springtown plant with news of one of the most significant business investments to have been made in the North West in recent years.

"Seagate's Springtown operation is already recognized as one of the United Kingdom's most advanced nanotechnology scale manufacturing facilities and this latest investment will serve to cement and enhance that reputation.

"Springtown is benefiting from Seagate's global policy of establishing R&D within its manufacturing facilities and will play a vital part in the company’s corporate strategy to maintain technology leadership," he commented.

Steve Luczo, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Seagate Technology, and Bob Whitmore, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, were in Northern Ireland to celebrate the announcement which Mr Luczo described as "of major importance to Seagate globally".

"Technical innovation is the cornerstone of our success and the decision to locate this important strategic R&D investment in Northern Ireland is a measure of our confidence not only in the Springtown operation, but also in the wealth of intellectual talent available here.

"The financial support of Invest Northern Ireland (INI) and that organisation's commitment to encouraging innovation were of pivotal importance in securing this venture for Northern Ireland.

"INI has proved itself to be a creative, supportive and, indeed, challenging partner and we are delighted to have earned its endorsement for a project that we are confident will bring substantial benefits to Northern Ireland," he said, noting that he was looking forward to further developing a strong and mutually productive association with Queen's University.

"QUB has a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation in digital electronics and related fields and we hope that the collaboration that we announce today, establishing a new research facility at the university's Department of Physics, will be a catalyst for many more positive developments for the future," he said.

The Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the news and also added: "This was a mobile investment which could easily have gone elsewhere within the Seagate corporation, but for the strong case made by local management and the support offered by Invest NI.

"In making these investments in the North West, Seagate is once again demonstrating its confidence in our local workforce and suppliers and is helping send a very strong signal to other potential international investors that the North West is a competitive and compelling location," she concluded.

(BMcC/GK)