Foster Announces £2.5m R&D Investment By M/A-COM Tech UK

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today announced that US-owned M/A-COM Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd (M/A-COM Tech UK) is investing £2.5 million in a major research and development project at its Belfast centre.

The investment, which is supported by Invest Northern Ireland, aims to broaden the company’s global market reach by developing new components and solutions in the specialist areas of microwave integrated circuits and power amplifiers. Invest NI’s support of almost £700,000 is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Arlene Foster said: "This investment in R&D will pave the way for an expansion of the M/A-COM Tech design centre in Belfast, which aims to increase its employment from 13 to 23 full-time high quality workers by the end of 2015.

"Innovation is at the heart of M/A-COM Tech UK’s success and the new products and applications developed through this R&D project will establish more high value and unique lines of business for the company.

"M/A-COM Tech UK is an excellent example of an international high-tech company that recognises the quality of skills available in Northern Ireland, our cost effective working environment and the contribution that these can make to long-term business success."

M/A-COM Tech UK formerly traded as Mimix Broadband before joining the M/A-COM Tech group in 2010, and recently completed a strategic training programme with support from Invest NI to help enhance its overall capability and value within the M/A-COM Tech group.

Dr Andrew Patterson of M/A-COM Tech UK in Belfast said: "The Belfast centre has been a key research and development operation for the company, successfully developing a number of specialist components for the semiconductor market. This investment further reflects the commitment and confidence that the M/A-COM Tech group has in the centre and its long-term future."

(CD)