Every day local startups are creating new jobs in Massachusetts and driving innovation. In ways, these companies are like raindrops, which soon pool to make a substantial impact on the Bay State. In the midst of all these raindrops, though, sometimes there is a monsoon.This week, IMB opened Mass Lab, the company’s “largest Software Development Lab in North America,” which employs 3,400 people in locations in Littleton and Westford. Altogether, the lab covers more square footage than Fenway Park or the TD Garden. (Image courtesy: http://bit.ly/dgtqig)
One of the primary goals of Mass Lab is to tackle substantial infrastructure modernization projects, such as the railroad, healthcare, and water management systems. Another objective of the lab is to further develop social networking and cloud computing technologies. Additionally, the lab is the location of IBM’s “Executive Briefing Center,” where the company will host clients from any of the 200 plus countries in which it operates, so they can meet with industry experts.
“Innovation is a centerpiece of the Massachusetts economy--we invent things here,” explained Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick. “The IBM Mass Lab helps demonstrate to the world that Massachusetts is a global leader in the innovation economy.”
IBM reported selecting Littleton and Westford for its new lab because of the location’s easy reach by its “geographically dispersed employee population” and its position within the growing “high-tech belt along I-495.”
“IBM views Massachusetts as an innovation hotbed,” IBM senior vice president and group executive Steve Mills said. “IBM is committed to nurturing the human talent and economic strengths of the growing Massachusetts tech hub. The IBM Mass Lab is a critical component of our growth strategy for the state of Massachusetts.”
This new lab is only one of the many ways IBM has
expanded in Massachusetts. Since 2003, IBM has purchased 14 Massachusetts’s companies including Rational Software, Cognos, Ascential Software Corp., Ounce Labs, and Guardium Corp.. Moreover, IBM has partnered with over 100 Bay State startups.“In... the worst recession in living memory, the Philadelphia FED reports that our economy as of the end of last year is out performing 48 other states,” Governor Patrick reminded. “In April we had the largest single monthly job gain in 17 years… We have turned a corner. Massachusetts is on the mend and on the move and IBM is central to it.” (Image courtesy: http://bit.ly/cokqF1)
IBM selecting Massachusetts as the site of its new lab signals two very positive things: IBM views the state as optimal for supporting its cutting-edge activities, and IBM is confident that the economy is presently strong enough to support its expansion. Surely, IBM’s new lab will be a substantial asset for Massachusetts.
[Sources: http://bit.ly/booyQK, http://bit.ly/bHW8OM]
