NI economy minister Conor Murphy has announced that AVEVA, a global industrial software firm, is investing £1.4m to establish a research and development (R&D) centre in Derry which will double its workforce.

Headquartered in Cambridge, AVEVA first established a presence in Derry in 2015. AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software. The company’s secure industrial cloud platform and applications enable businesses to harness the power of their information and improve collaboration with customers, suppliers, and partners.

During a visit to AVEVA’s premises at the Innovation Centre, Derry, Minister Murphy sais: “This strategic expansion by AVEVA is a strong testament of its confidence in the northwest's skilled workforce. Supporting R&D is a key priority for me as we work to enhance productivity across the north.

Creation of 23 jobs

"This investment and the creation of 23 jobs is a significant boost for the local economy and aligns perfectly with my regional economic action plan, which aims to promote balanced economic growth across the north.

“AVEVA's long-term investment in Derry reinforces the region’s potential as a leading technology and innovation hub and I am confident this investment will deliver lasting benefits for both the local economy and the north’s position in the global tech landscape.”

The expansion will focus on the development of products to support AVEVA’s global growth, including the growth of its flagship Asset Information Management (AIM) solution. This software plays a key role in managing vast data sources for AVEVA’s customers, and the new site will also allow the company to scale its cloud-based solutions to meet growing demand.

Caoimhe Keogan, chief people officer, AVEVA, said: “We have multiple R&D locations throughout the globe and have chosen to expand within Northern Ireland due to its strong talent pool, associated links to local universities and successful placement and graduate schemes.

"Our decision to expand in Derry is a testament to the wealth of talent available in the North West and the support, advice and guidance we’ve received from Invest NI.”

Iju Raj, executive vice president, R&D, AVEVA said: “Innovation and investment in technology are central to AVEVA’s strategy. This R&D centre will be crucial for developing products that keep us at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling us to maintain our competitive edge in the global market.”

Brendan McGuigan, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering at Invest NI, said: “This project is an exciting addition to Northern Ireland’s thriving software sector. By combining our local talent pool with Invest NI support, AVEVA has chosen Derry as the strategic location for its second UK R&D hub, securing a bright future for the company’s operations here.”