LILLE, France, June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a new services center in the city of Lille that will create up to 700 French language IT roles in the coming three to five years, enabling IBM to deliver an industry-leading range of technology services to clients across France.

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Newly established IBM Services Center Lille, a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM, will provide local clients with high value application development, application maintenance and systems integration services that address the increasing demand for flexible software capability to harness the benefits of emerging Big Data, cloud and mobile business technologies.

The center will offer IBM's French clients locally-based skills and technical expertise to drive innovation and adoption of new technology, and provide direct proximity while working in tandem with IBM's globally integrated capability network. Working closely with local government, Lille's Agency, North France Invest and EuraTechnologies, it is anticipated that the center's development will help to stimulate economic activity in the region.

During the next three to five years IBM Services Center Lille 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 investment in job creation to deliver new client value reflects IBM's commitment to providing the next-generation workforce with the advanced skills and expertise needed to drive innovation and adoption of emerging technologies," said Urs Briner, General Manager, IBM Global Business Services, France. "The new center aims to position Lille as a leader in the global technology sector and follows the creation of France Lab and the first center of public cloud in Montpellier, which together will provide high-value technology services to clients across France."

In an on-going relationship, the center will work with local universities to support development of the computer science curriculum and help the next generation of IT talent secure world class training. To cater for changing business needs and the demands of an evolving labour market students will be equipped with advanced, high demand skills that include advanced analytics, process innovation and application development.

"We are really pleased to welcome IBM at EuraTechnologies, a center of technological excellence, which is growing since 2009, and now counts 130 organizations," says Pierre de Saintignon, 1(st) Deputy of the Nord Pas de Calais Regional Council, 1(st) Deputy Mayor of LILLE, and Chairman of EuraTechnologies.

"With EuraTechnologies, our goal is to select the best of breed in the IT market (startups, SMBs, global leaders), to make LILLE REGION one of the most comprehensive European ecosystems in terms of technological innovations. IBM, which has always anticipated the IT trends throughout history, today joins this promising project. Together, they aim to pursue their path to the industry of the future."

The IBM Services Center Lille joins IBM's globally integrated capability network which delivers deep technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients. It 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 to train college students for technology jobs in local markets.

Recruitment planning for the new positions will begin in July with a collaboration with Universities and Pole-Emploi, an organisation for job seekers.

More details about IBM Services Center Lille can be found at: www.ibm.com/fr/lilleexperience

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

Leila Ryadi
IBM France
33-1 58 75 x2893
leila.ryadi@fr.ibm.com

Constance Bordes
IBM France
33-1-5875-0871
Constance-Bordes@fr.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM