A US market research firm is to create 50 new jobs over five years in Galway, following acquisition of a locally-based firm.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is establishing a European operations centre at the plant formerly run by Global Marketing Technologies in Ballybrit, Galway.
GMT was employing 17 people when it was acquired earlier this year by IIR.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keeffe said the development was “very strategic”, as there was a potential for more posts to be created by the new company.
Recruitment has begun for the new jobs, which will be in research, sales, administration and management, Mr O’Keeffe said in Galway yesterday when he paid tribute to IDA Ireland for securing the deal. IIR was founded in 1983 and has its headquarters in Texas.
It conducts “in-depth market research on the industrial processing, heavy manufacturing and energy-related industries worldwide and offers knowledge management solutions to firms in those sectors”, Mr O’Keeffe said.
The new Galway base will develop subscription-based industrial market intelligence databases on the European market and sell IIR’s global capabilities to European clients.
IIR president Ed Lewis described Galway as an “ideal location to grow our operations to better service our customers throughout Europe”.
Mr O’Keeffe also announced Science Foundation Ireland funding of almost €10 million for NUI Galway’s regenerative medicine institute (Remedi) which will allow it to move into clinical trials, using stem cell applications for treatment of degenerative diseases.
NUIG head of marketing at the JE Cairnes business and economics school Dr Declan Fleming said the university was “delighted” a “prestigious US market research firm has chosen Galway”.