In the first expansion of its kind outside the US, Dell has confirmed that Limerick is to be the base of its European internet of things (IoT) division, where it will work on technology widely considered the internet’s future.

The company’s first IoT lab was opened in Santa Clara, California in November last year, but the Limerick lab’s opening comes at a time when the company launches its first IoT product release, known as gateways.

The gateways, as Dell calls them, will make up the framework of an interconnected IoT infrastructure with the small, wireless or connected devices being used to collect, help secure and process sensor data at the edge of a network.

Speaking of the new lab in Limerick, Dell says it will provide European customers with a dedicated space to build, model, architect and test their IoT solutions and get them to market faster.

“In Limerick, customers will have a flexible and scalable foundation for developing market-ready solutions with a trusted, reliable partner,” said Dermot O’Connell, executive director and general manager of OEM solutions, Dell EMEA. “Our specialists in the lab can reduce the complexity of IT and help customers to bring their ideas to life.”

This marks the second positive announcement from the company, with it announcing in April of this year that it was to create 100 R&D jobs in its Limerick base.

Limerick city at dusk image via Shutterstock