“Our intention is that, during this year, around 50 jobs will be created, with an ambition and a plan of at least the creation of 300 jobs in the next three years”, said Ricardo Martinho, president of IBM Portugal.

The official was speaking at the Regia Douro Park – Science and Technology Park of Vila Real, after signing the cooperation protocol with the Chamber, the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) and Softinsa, an IBM subsidiary.

“We hope that the numbers we are putting on the table are conservative”, added Ricardo Martinho, pointing out that job creation depends on projects and the availability of employees. The company is looking for graduates with a specialisation in technology.

IBM will, in this first phase, be installed in Regia and create a hub at UTAD, to be closer to university students.

And, according to the mayor of Vila Real, Rui Santos, “as the project consolidates and grows”, the partners will look for “larger facilities”.