Enterprise Ireland Opens Boston Office More Irish High Tech Firms Are Targeting Boston Area - Tánaiste

Mary Harney, Tánaiste (Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, today (Wednesday 8th March, 2000) opened a new Enterprise Ireland Boston office and Trade & Technology Center for Irish-owned software and other high tech companies who are targeting the Boston/New England market. Since the beginning of this year, the number of Irish companies with offices in the region has increased by one-third to 40, with a further twelve scheduled to open New England offices before the end of the year.

The Boston office and Center is operated by Enterprise Ireland and it is located in the heart of New England's technology corridor in Burlington. The Center provides a customised office facility, networking benefits and hands-on support from Enterprise Ireland to companies during the initial stages of building a local market presence in the region and enables them to focus on new business development. Ten companies are already operating out of the Center, with more to follow.

According to the Tánaiste the past year has seen a notable increase in the number of Irish technology companies locating in the Boston-New England area. These include leading Irish global players such as WBT Systems, Baltimore Technologies, Aimware, ITP, Iona Technologies, Viasec, Eon Technologies and Aldiscon.

Speaking at a reception for Irish and American business executives in the Harvard Club, Boston, Ms Harney said "Boston and New England is a market of significant opportunity for Irish companies. It has a very high concentration of Fortune 500 corporations and the Greater Boston area in particular is now recognised as America's Center for Technology and Leadership. It is a natural point of entry for many Irish high tech companies and especially for the newest wave of Irish high tech companies targeting the American market for direct sales, strategic alliances and technology and business partnerships."

Peter Coyle, Director, Enterprise Ireland said "more than 220 Irish companies are currently active in the technology sectors of the US - including 70 software companies - and more are entering the market on a weekly basis. The number of Enterprise Ireland client companies establishing a market presence here is continuing to grow rapidly. There are now over 132 companies with offices across America, and this is set to increase to 170 over the next two years. Boston offers a strong local support culture for Irish-owned companies who are new to the region. There is a positive perception of Irish high tech expertise in New England and Irish companies have shown a strong commitment to developing their business in the region" he said.