U.S. based security software company Q1 Labs has announced that the headquarters for its European, Middle East and Africa operations will be based in Belfast, with the creation of around 50 new jobs.

U.S. Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland Declan Kelly is delighted with this development.

“This new investment by Q1 Labs is yet another vote of confidence in Northern Ireland by a U.S. based company in the technology space,” said Envoy Kelly.

"Having recently held discussions with Q1 Labs executives myself I learned firsthand about their strong offering and was very impressed with their plans for their own growth and expansion. Northern Ireland will be the perfect location for the company to base its EMEA operations given the region's highly skilled workforce and outstanding reputation in the field of software development.

 "Q1 Labs is the latest in a series of investments by U.S. companies in Northern Ireland in recent months, underlining the increasing confidence and connectivity between both locations.

 “Technology-related investments such as this one will be a key component in Northern Ireland’s future economic growth. Minister Foster and the team at Invest Northern Ireland are to be congratulated for their work in attracting Q1 Labs to Northern Ireland.

 “Executives from Q1 Labs are joining us today (Tuesday) in Washington D.C. for a series of events which I am co-hosting with Northern Ireland’s political leadership and government agencies to place a strong focus on inward investment into the region. Meetings with potential investors and interested third parties are also taking place this week in Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York, in addition to a visit by a special Northern Ireland trade mission involving more than a dozen Northern Ireland companies."