IT firm IBM is to invest some Euro 7 million in the project, which will focus on researching and developing products and services for assessing, managing and predicting environmental issues, the Irish Times reports.

According to the news source, the movement of pollutants in fresh water, coastal areas and oceans is one of the issues to be analysed by the centre.

Eoin Sweeney, programme manager for the Marine Institute’s Discovery initiative – a collaborative project to take place in Galway Bay – said the opening of the centre ties in with the national Sea Change Strategy for the maritime sector.

Sharon Nunes, IBM executive in charge of the company’s Big Green environmental programme, said the new centre would have many benefits.

“The centre will develop technology that can solve critical problems, generate revenues for IBM and its partners, and generate jobs for Ireland,” she said.

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