Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced on Tuesday it has opened its new innovation hub in Boston’s Back Bay as part of its accelerated innovation investment in the U.S. The company revealed it plans to add 400 technology jobs in the city by the end of 2020. It is also expanding its U.S. apprenticeship program to Boston in order to provide “under-represented” groups access to digital economy jobs. Kathleen O’Reilly, Senior Managing Director of Accenture, stated:
“Our clients look to us to help them transform so that they can compete and succeed in the digital economy. We are bringing innovation to the doorsteps of our Boston clients with a new destination where we can collaborate even more closely to deliver tangible, ground-breaking results faster than ever.”
Julie Sweet, Accenture’s North American CEO, then commented:
“From our experience across the more than 40 industries we serve, it’s clear that companies that continuously innovate will succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. Our innovation hubs around the country are designed to help our clients innovate, implement and scale new solutions, and repeat the cycle across their businesses and capabilities, at speed.”
Accenture also noted in its innovation hubs, clients work side-by-side with the company’s teams in collaborative innovation journeys, exploring the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics and augmented reality. Workshops leveraging data-driven market insights and design thinking put clients in their customers’ shoes, helping them ideate human-centered products, services, and business models. Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, added:
“Massachusetts is a national leader in technology and innovation thanks to our talented workforce, exceptional schools and quality companies. We welcome Accenture’s decision to expand their commitments in the Commonwealth and look forward to the highly skilled opportunities they will create for Massachusetts workers.”