NORTHERN Ireland is the most successful region in Europe for software development centres for the past eight years a major review of the industry has revealed.
The respected Software Report 2009 is produced by FDI research specialist Oxford Intelligence and analyses the European business development strategies of software firms.
Stating that senior executives in internationally dynamic software firms say that the y that current economic crisis will not significantly affect their European business models, it lists Dublin is the most positively perceived European location and cities or regions such as London, Ile de France, West Nederland, and Stockholm as some of the strongest cost/quality options for locating a European software facility.
However, it said Northern Ireland had dominated the sector from 2001 to 2008.Despite warnings of further decline before the UK market as a whole showed an upturn, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said she was delighted by the findings.
"This accolade is testimony to our reputation as a value for money location which can strongly compete for and win quality investment projects in the ICT sector, even now in the global downturn," she said. "Since March of this year, I have made a number of such investment announcements.
"Northern Ireland has consistently been chosen for our availability of high calibre, technical talent, our established links between industry and academia, as well as Invest NI's commitment and ability to secure quality investment.
"I am confident that we can continue to attract lucrative investment and reinvestment projects, despite the economic downturn."
Oxford Intelligence forecasts an 11 per cent decline in software FDI deals in Europe in 2009 and a modest growth of five per cent in 2010, led by the UK, which will be the first to benefit from the upturn.
Speaking on behalf of the IT industry body in the Province, Momentum, chief executive Ian Graham said software development was the dominant activity in the local ICT industry and was proving resilient to the downturn.
"Momentum believes the region's success is due to the excellence of our education system which produces world class software professionals coupled with the success of Invest NI in selling this message.
"These results validate the highly successful 'BringITon' campaign developed by DEL, Invest NI, e-skills UK and Momentum which is promoting the opportunity that software development offers as an exciting and secure profession for young people."
