Business Software Firm, SAS, expands in Scotland

NEW YORK, April 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 220 high-value jobs are to be created and safeguarded in Scotland by North Carolina-based company SAS, supported by an investment package announced in New York today by First Minister Alex Salmond.

The business analytics company is to open a new Advanced Analytics lab and expand its existing Scottish Research and Development Center for Public Security—creating 94 new jobs in the next four years and safeguarding their current employee base of 126.

The First Minister has met senior SAS representatives in New York as part of his Scotland Week program of business and trade meetings designed to boost investment and employment in Scotland.

The news comes on the heels of yesterday's announcement from Daktari, an American life sciences company that released plans following a meeting with the First Minister to locate their global manufacturing base in Scotland, with the creation of 126 new jobs.

The project is supported by $1.7 million from Scottish Development International (SDI), a partnership between Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Island's Enterprise

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"SAS is a prestigious global company and their choice not just to expand their existing site but to also expand into advanced analytics with 94 new jobs is a significant feather in Scotland's cap.

"The new facility will position Scotland as an international center of excellence for big data analytics and will create a substantial number of highly-skilled, high-value jobs.

"Scotland offers international companies a well-educated and trained workforce, competitive infrastructure and supportive government agencies, and this investment by SAS is a terrific example of how that international reputation pays off."

Mikael Hagstrom, SAS executive vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (AP), said:

"We're proud to be building on our existing operations in Scotland. We established our global research and development team to create business applications which will help modernize law enforcement, improve public safety and enhance national security.

"The initial investments allowed SAS to see the real Scottish potential with access to the excellent pool of talent from Scottish universities and its strong culture of innovation. Our plans for the new SAS facility further underscore our commitment to investing in Scotland."

Danny Cusick, President, Americas, Scottish Development International said:  

"The company's decision to locate their Advanced Analytics lab in Scotland shows that the U.S. not only recognizes Scotland as a hub for information technology, but also as a leading European center for business.

"Because SAS creates software used by the world's Fortune 500 companies, they depend heavily on 'creative capital' to grow their business, and we're proud SAS can rely on Scotland to meet its talent needs. We're confident this investment announcement will peak even more interest from tech-driven U.S. companies looking to globally expand."

Media Contact: Jordan Robinson Agnor, [email protected], (212) 725-0707

SOURCE Scottish Development International