Canadian communications technology company Nortel, which employs 300 people at its plant in Galway, has opened a new $5m (€3.7m) centre for customer service and research and development in the city.
The company said it underscored the importance of the work being done on its Galway campus and was expected to lead to the creation of additional jobs in the years ahead.
180 of the 300 workers employed in Galway are involved in research and development.
The company also employs 700 in Belfast, which is its main manufacturing base. It has been in production in Galway since 1973.
