A technology company headquartered in Newry has pledged £15.3m towards research and development focused on artificial intelligence.
The announcement confirmed the creation of one hundred positions for a dedicated centre of excellence spanning both AI and financial services sectors.
Seventy of these new roles are scheduled to be filled in Newry, while the remaining thirty will be based in Belfast.
Invest NI has provided £3m in support for the project, which aims to strengthen local expertise in emerging digital technologies.
First Derivative was established in 1996 by Brian Conlon and is currently owned by EPAM.
The firm operates as a global consultancy serving approximately eighty banking clients worldwide.
This investment will expand the company's total workforce to roughly six hundred employees.
While the headquarters remain in Newry, the organisation maintains an international client base.
No further details regarding specific project timelines or individual job descriptions were provided at this stage.