US tech giant Cisco is opening a new base in Birmingham.
The cyber security, AI and networking firm will launch an office at Birmingham City University's (BCU) STEAMhouse facility in Belmont Row.
The £70 million innovation centre, in an area dubbed the city's 'Knowledge Quarter', will give the San Jose-based firm the capacity for up to 60 new staff in Birmingham when it opens later in the summer.
STEAMhouse will serve as a regional hub for collaboration by Cisco's teams, customers and partners.
Cisco and BCU already have a long-standing working relationship as part of the Cisco Networking Academy of which the university leads one of its support and training centres.
Sign up for your free West Midlands newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire.
Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates.
We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away.
For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our
Adele Every, managing director of public sector at Cisco º£½ÇÊÓÆµ and Ireland, said: "All technology companies should be represented regionally and, in these competitive times, it's vital to identify the best hubs for talent, innovation and collaboration.
"The West Midlands has long demonstrated its strengths in these areas and this new space reflects our confidence in the region's important role in driving future growth.
Most Read
"This is more than an office presence - it's a commitment to the future of the West Midlands.
"Cisco's new space at STEAMhouse is part of our continued expansion of regional presence and recognises that innovation, talent and our ecosystem spans across all four corners of the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ."
BCU vice-chancellor David Mba added: "As an anchor institution for the West Midlands, BCU strives to bring the world to Birmingham through amplifying the region's status as a leading centre for technological talent and business growth.
"Having a global brand like Cisco invest in our region is a major display of confidence in the future of our city which will also offer our graduates more opportunities to develop their careers locally."
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: "Cisco's investment in the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter is a big win for our region and a clear vote of confidence in my plan to get our economy growing again.
"The world's top companies are choosing to come here because of the exceptional talent and cutting-edge innovation we can offer them.
"The West Midlands has always been at the forefront of technological innovation and it is still the case today.
"We are home to a £15 billion tech sector and the fastest growing cluster in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ. It is businesses like Cisco that mean we can keep going from strength to strength."