Alba Centre attracts Motorola to ScotlandRichard BallScotland's Alba Centre has attracted Motorola to its Livingston campus, with the promise of 550 jobs by 2005.
Motorola becomes Alba's second major partner since the centre was launched in 1997 with US design firm Cadence as the lead company.
The technology centre will focus on software, including manufacturing control systems, e-commerce infrastructure, and, importantly, embedded software for products such as mobile phones.
"In terms of embedded applications, the design level is moving higher and higher," Michael Kay, director of the Motorola technology centre, told Electronics Weekly. "There's an interdependence between hardware and software."
Motorola will work closely with the Institute for System Level Integration (ISLI), which offers MSc courses in system-on-chip design.
"The ISLI has a system-on-chip focus and embedded software is a key part of that," said Professor Steve Beaumont, head of the Institute.
Kay agreed: "The ISLI was a key factor in our decision to come to Scotland. We're impressed with the Institute's ability to supply high quality engineers."
The firm has worked with the Institute already, sponsoring student projects and making use of the MSc courses.
"Motorola has been very generous in terms of collaborative projects," added Beaumont.
Over the next four years Motorola plans to build two 50,000ft2 premises for its staff.
Despite the worldwide shortage of talented engineers, both hardware and software, Kay expects to have 50 staff within 12 months, and triple that inside two years.
"This campus environment will be a key factor in attracting engineers here," he said.