IBM has the IT factor
BY FIONA HENDERSON
This excerpt was taken from The Ballarat Courier on Saturday the 5th of December 2009.
THE new IBM IT Services Centre will employ 300 people and add an estimated $61 million to Ballarat's purse.
Opened yesterday by Premier John Brumby, the $10.8 million centre takes IBM's Ballarat workforce to 1100.
At the University of Ballarat Technology Park, the centre will provide IBM's clients around the world with remote technical support, e-security, business processing, ICT support and consulting.
Mr Brumby said Ballarat was a centre of ICT excellence.
"Ballarat is renowned not just for its innovation and highly skilled staff but also for offering investors an internationally competitive mix of skills, infrastructure and local innovation," he said.
IBM Global Technology Services general manager Peter Campbell said the university and IBM had formed a very successful partnership over 15 years.
"IBM has established an excellent working relationship with the University of Ballarat and we enjoy access to a strong supply of highly-skilled graduates and researchers, particularly from its excellent Bachelor of Information Technology program," Mr Campbell said.
University of Ballarat Vice-Chancellor Professor David Battersby said IBM's presence had established the Ballarat Technology Park as the pre-eminent technology park in regional Australia.
"IBM has provided industry experience and employment for our students and graduates, and I have no doubt that we will see further major developments between the university and IBM into the future," Prof Battersby said.
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the State Government was committed to supporting regional Victorian investments.
"Our government provided $5 million to support the IBM expansion from our Regional Infrastructure Development Fund, which aims to grow regional economies and communities by unlocking the potential for future growth," Ms Allen said.
The Ballarat Technology Park employs 1400 people across 30 enterprises.
