US tech firm to create 50 new jobs in Cork 

A US tech firm which has its international headquarters in Cork has announced its intention to create 50 new jobs here over the next five years.

Tricentis, a software testing firm which currently employs 18 people in Cork, said the 50 new jobs will be across areas such as engineering, finance, business operations and customer growth. The company, which has 26 offices worldwide and last year generated over $425m in revenue, said its expansion plans will include opening a larger Cork premises.

The jobs announcement came after Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited Tricentis’s base in Austin, Texas, today.

Appeal

Mr Martin, who is in the US ahead of his St Patrick’s festival meeting with president Donald Trump on Wednesday, said the investment highlighted Ireland’s appeal as a hub for innovation and technology, supported by the strategic efforts of IDA Ireland.

“During my meeting with the Tricentis team in Austin, I learned that the team in Ireland has led several initiatives to optimise Tricentis’s international business operations. We look forward to the positive impact this project will have,” Mr Martin said.

Michael Lohan, IDA Ireland CEO, said it was “terrific news” for Cork city and highlighted region’s highly skilled and talented workforce.

The news was described as a very welcome development by Peter Burke, minister for enterprise, tourism and employment.

“This development exemplifies the type of projects we aim to attract and secure under Ireland’s national AI strategy, ‘AI — Here for Good’,” he said.

Tricentis currently employs 18 people in its Parliament St office in Cork, and the company’s work has focused to date on consolidating international finance and building various functions such as payroll, accounts payable, projects, revenue, legal, data analytics, and more.

Key attraction

David Owens, Tricentis executive VP and general manager of international operations, told The Echo that he believed that a key attraction to US firms investing In Ireland was the country’s economic and political stability in a changing geo-political world.

He praised Taoiseach Micheál Martin for his Government’s pro-business policies, and the work of IDA Ireland for its close relationship with industry. Mr Owens said the decision by Tricentis, to expand its operation in Cork was a vote of confidence from the company’s senior management in Ireland.

“They look to the Ireland team to be thought leaders for around the world, and a lot of that thought leadership comes out of Cork,” he said.

Strong history

“Cork has such a long history for software companies, and, look, we’re the only English-speaking country in the EU, and I think we’ve always had such a strong history with the US, and I think we’re a very good member of the EU, so we tend to sit between both locations.

“If you take a look at Cork, and the success of Apple, McAfee, Qualcomm, and the universities are turning out graduates who are trained in all these products, so it’s a really good site, and I think an awful lot of that credit would go to the Government and the IDA, and Cork Chamber under Conor Healy, I think he does an amazing job,” Mr Owens said.

Mr Owens said he was hopeful it would easily meet its planned creation of 50 new jobs. “I would be disappointed if we didn’t over-achieve against that number.”