Accenture spends €25m on European centre in Dublin

Accenture is opening a European IT hub in Dublin that will house 200 staff focused on the research, development and design of cognitive computing, internet of things, analytics, security and digital technologies.

The move sees Dublin join technology labs in the US, France, Beijing and Bangalore. The IT services supplier will invest €25m in the centre, which will be used to test out technologies for customers.

“Ireland has become a technology hub in Europe and is a rich source of highly skilled talent in science, technology and engineering. Given this, Dublin is the perfect location for our new Centre for Innovation,” said Jo Deblaere, Accenture’s CEO Europe.

Accenture’s headquarters are also in Dublin, so it is a city the company is familiar with.

“We have a long history in Ireland and a significant presence in the country, with more than 1,800 employees,” said Alastair Blair, country managing director, Accenture Ireland. 

“Over the years, we have made significant investments in Ireland, including the creation of the Accenture analytics innovation centre in Dublin,” he said.
 
The Centre for Innovation is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland, which encourages foreign investment in the country.
 
“The government has prioritised initiatives to support emerging technologies through the establishment of new research and technology centres and expert taskforces,” said Enda Kenny, prime minister of Ireland.
 
Martin Shanahan, chief executive of the IDA, said the IT hub positions Dublin as a global centre of excellence in a number of areas, including cognitive computing and advanced analytics.
 
Potential candidates for jobs at the centre are being asked to contact Accenture via its website.