75 New Jobs at Citywest - Tánaiste Synopsys To Establish Software Centre

Mary Harney Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced today (Friday 10th September, 1999) that Synopsys of the US is to establish its European software development and administration centre at Citywest Business Campus, Dublin, with the support of IDA Ireland.

The Tánaiste, who visited Citywest Business Campus to perform the official opening of the new centre, said, "Recruitment of key staff is to commence immediately. 90% of the jobs will be for graduates in software design, electrical engineering, computing, law and accounting. In addition to employing people from within Ireland, the centre could also attract home some experienced Irish people who are currently working overseas."

"The Synopsys centre will be a high quality operation and will be the most integrated electronic design automation (EDA) project located in Ireland. It will be a key addition to the infrastructure of the software and electronics industry here and will make Ireland a major player in the whole area of EDA software within European markets," said the Tánaiste.

The Tánaiste continued, "The winning of this software centre, against intense competition from other locations world-wide, is a further success for IDA Ireland in the implementation of its strategy to win additional high skill and value investments from companies that are leaders in their sector."

Dr. Chi-Foon Chan, President and Chief Operating Officer at Synopsys, said, "We are very pleased to open the Citywest centre and to be able to draw on the skills of Ireland’s talented engineering graduates. The centre will bring us closer to our European customers and ensure that our tools and technologies meet the needs of designers who are tackling the challenges of systems-on-a-chip design."

The Tánaiste said that there were now 35 companies in Citywest employing over 1500 people across high tech sectors including Information & Communication Technologies, software development and process engineering. With the addition of the 150-acre National Digital Park providing broadband telecom facilities it is envisaged that eventually over 10,000 people will be employed in the Citywest Business Park.