Seagate creates 95 jobs

Seagate Technology is to create 95 jobs at its Derry plant as part of an investment of almost €60 million.

Seagate, which makes hard disk drives and storage solutions, is investing about £47.3 million in research and development, with a further £12.7 million grant coming from Invest Northern Ireland.

Some 85 positions will be created in R&D related fields, while 10 related research posts will be created as part of a collaboration with Queen's University Belfast. The new research facility will be established at the university's physics department.

Vice president of operations at the plant Brian Burns said the operation was already recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most advanced nanotechnology scale manufacturing facilities.

Seagate chief executive Steve Luczo described the development as "of major importance to Seagate globally", and said the financial support provided by Invest NI was of pivotal importance in securing the investment in the Derry operation.

"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," he said.

The company already employs 1,300 people at the Derry facility.