NTT Data expands to Porto Digital

NTT DATA, the sixth largest IT services company in the world, recently announced it would be opening a branch in Porto Digital (Brazil).

Based in the city of Recife, IASP member Porto Digital is one of the largest innovation ecosystems in Brazil, and specialises in ICT and the creative economy. With this new base, NTT DATA expands its presence in the region, where it will create up to 230 vacancies during the year 2022 as well as invest in the development of local talent in the region through its training programme.

“The priority is training and attracting new talent. Porto Digital has a consolidated relevance in the local technology market, which means that new interested parties are always looking for it,” says Virgínia Heimann, executive manager of the North/Northeast of NTT DATA Brazil.

The arrival of NTT DATA continues Porto Digital's growth: it is already home to 350 companies with revenue last year that exceeded R$ 3.6 billion. “The innovation hub is not only a generator of invoices, as we like to say, but also a tool for fostering higher education in technology and digital transformation, important vectors for economies that are increasingly integrated with the future. With NTT Data, we have one of the most prominent companies in the world to act on these three fronts,” commented the president of Porto Digital, Pierre Lucena.

In addition to a greater presence in the city and being able to offer training opportunities to a new audience, the company plans to bring speakers on cutting-edge topics such as Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence. They will also bring NTT DATA Foundation, which specializes in social entrepreneurship projects. “By investing in diversity and training through technology, which have always been the guiding principles of what we do, we are investing in something that will transform people and families,” said Virgínia Heimann.

The company plans to hold eight bootcamps in 2022, and will offer 22,000 scholarships to train young talent in the field of technology. They expect to hire 800 young people who complete the training nationwide.

Choosing the capital of Pernambuco is strategic for NTT DATA. Among the Brazilian regional capitals, Recife has the most technology students per capita, as well as about 600 PhDs in an innovation ecosystem that boasts a mature local market and high growth expectations. Located in Recife’s historic city centre on a site that exceeds 149 hectares, Porto Digital has already been designated the best innovation space in Brazil three times, and has been described by experts as “the future of Brazil’s Creative Economy.”

Find out more about Porto Digital at https://portodigital.org/home