Ericsson Opening New UK R&D Center
Ericsson has announced plans to open a new research and development facility in UK. Ericsson will be consolidating some of its other UK sites into a 100,000 square foot facility in the Midlands region of the UK. The company is currently in negotiations, with plans to break ground on the new location in January 2008, and expects to move staff into the new facility by the second quarter of 2009. An estimated 650 employees will occupy the new premises, which is located on a 90-acre site called the Ansty Complex, a former Rolls- Royce plant.
"The $120 million project will be a big boost to the region's economy," said Vern Sebby, President of The British Midlands Development Corporation, "The Midlands has a strong R&D base and a highly skilled workforce, so the region was a natural choice for Ericsson's R&D operations." "Ericsson will thrive here," continued Sebby, "We have 17 universities in the region and a strong core of highly skilled technical employees with a strong record of innovation."
The Midlands has a strong telecommunications industry and infrastructure on which Ericsson can build. AT&T has a large presence in the region, which is home to approximately 25% of their European employees. Fujitsu also has operations in the region. Its Birmingham facility is the second largest base of operations for the company outside of Japan. Over 700 people are employed by Fujitsu in The Midlands, whose staff have pioneered several new technologies, including a videophony system that can be accessed via television.
The British Midlands Development Corporation is the North American economic development agency for central England. The Midlands region is located to the northwest of London and includes the major commercial centers of Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Northampton.
Posted to the site on 13th August 2007