GRONINGEN, Netherlands, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a new services center in the city of Groningen, The Netherlands that will create up to 350 technical IT roles in the coming three years enabling IBM to deliver an industry-leading range of innovative technology services to clients across The Netherlands.

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The center will offer IBM clients in The Benelux locally-based skills and technical expertise in the Dutch language to drive innovation and adoption of new technology, and provide direct proximity. The new center joins IBM's globally integrated capability network which delivers deep technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients.

The rise of Big Data, analytics, cloud and mobile business technologies are changing the way companies work and interact with their customers. To address the increasing demand for flexible software capability that harness the benefits of these new technologies, the new IBM Services Center: Groningen will provide local IBM clients with high value application development, application maintenance and systems integration services.

IBM Services Center: Groningen, a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM, is being developed through a collaboration with the city and Province of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). It is anticipated that its development will stimulate economic activity in the region.

"This job creation investment reflects IBM's view of client demand for high-value technology services, drawing on the local talent pool to drive IBM's competitive positioning in the Dutch market," said Luq Niazi, Global Business Services Leader, IBM Benelux. "The center also highlights IBM's commitment to partnering with local universities and academic institutions to deliver high value skills that are highly relevant in today's marketplace."

During the next three years IBM Services Center: Groningen will employ technology graduates and experienced IT professionals with backgrounds in computer science, engineering, mathematics and science. The center will also offer internships and graduate assignments to harness the best IT talent from across the city and region.

"This is a perfect example of how collaboration between the private sector, knowledge institutes and the government creates new jobs and generates income," says Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp. "This investment is also giving students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and learn the skills that businesses like IBM need."

Yvonne van Mastrigt Regional Minister in Groningen said, "Today's announcement strengthens our competitiveness for the best talent and sends a strong message that Groningen is a great place to study, work and build an exciting future. The center will continue to position Groningen as a leader in the global technology sector as we work alongside IBM to create a first-of-its-kind for The Netherlands."

In an on-going relationship, the center will help Hanze University of Applied Sciences with computer science curriculum development to cater for changing business needs and the demands of an evolving labor market by providing enhanced higher education computer science programs. The University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen will participate with the center through innovative research projects in important regional domains such as healthcare and energy.

The programs will ensure the next generation of IT talent undergoes world class training -- equipping students with advanced, high demand skills that include advanced analytics, process innovation and application development.

The IBM Services Center: Groningen is the latest in a series of job-creating investments IBM has made this year in technology, science and innovation. This builds upon IBM's efforts to build technology skills for primary and secondary school students as well as train college students for technology jobs in local markets.

Recruitment for the 350 new positions will start during a recruitment event on June 26 at Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

More details about IBM Services Center: Groningen can be found at www.ibm.com/nl/groningenexperience.

Contact:

Lisa Lanspery
IBM
914-766-2607
lisalanspery@us.ibm.com

Jelmer Letterie
IBM BeNeLux
31-20-513-3241
Jelmer.letterie@nl.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM Corporation