In a recent move hailed by Irish leaders and businesses throughout the country, Cisco Networking has decided to build a world class research and development center in the city of Galway. Cisco Networking, an international company that includes centers in hundreds of countries, is one of the world leaders in networking and communications solutions. By providing data, communications, and networking solutions to businesses throughout the world, Cisco Networking has shown that it is at the cutting edge of the new global economy. The city of Galway and the nation of Ireland have claimed that Cisco's decision is a recognition of Ireland's development into a technological hub in northern Europe.

The Galway research and development center promised by Cisco Networking will require 50 skilled and highly trained graduates when it opens right away in the next year. Most of these graduates will be employed in product development and research, requiring advanced degrees up to the PhD level. As well, several administrative and office staff members will be hired within this group to maintain the daily functions of the center. Cisco is also promising at least 200 more open positions at the center within three years of the center's opening. Cisco's opening of a Galway center supplements their present operations center in Dublin. The Dublin office currently has 66 sales and support personnel under the employ of Cisco, whom would work with the Galway office to ensure adherence to Cisco company policies.

The new Galway center and the graduate employment it creates for those throughout the region will be vital to both the Irish economy and Cisco's strength as a company. The Galway center is one in a new series of research and development centers that Cisco is building as a vanguard of the company's global product development scheme. The Galway research and development center will deal with resolving communication snarls and complications created during their clients? average business day. Improvements will be made in networking equipment, software, and data streams that are vital to businesses big and small.

By creating and producing cutting edge networking solutions, the Galway office will contribute to more efficient business practices. The 50 researchers, engineers, and other product development personnel at the new Cisco office will be contributing to a global communications network that will connect Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Europe to the rest of the world. The exact location and opening date of the Galway center has not been determined as of yet.