Governor Patrick Celebrates Grand Opening of Schneider Electric's Campus in Andover, Further Solidifying Massachusetts as a Hub for Innovation Technology

Press Release

Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and local officials and Schneider Electric North America's leadership to celebrate the company's new global Research and Development center in Andover. The Boston One Campus will serve as the company's new North American headquarters.

"I'm excited to welcome Schneider Electric's new R&D Center and North American headquarters to Massachusetts," said Governor Patrick. "We are committed to making Massachusetts a global hub of technology innovation and companies like Schneider Electric are important to helping the Commonwealth continue its competitive edge."

Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management with approximately 2,000 employees in Massachusetts and 160,000 worldwide. The company offers integrated solutions for energy automation, grid and site optimization across multiple market segments. The facility is one of five Research and Development centers Schneider Electric has recently opened around the world. It is built for approximately 750 employees and has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification.

"We are excited to welcome Schneider Electric's North American headquarters to Massachusetts," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. "The Patrick Administration's strategic investments in education, innovation and infrastructure have made the Commonwealth an innovation destination for companies like Schneider Electric, and we look forward to seeing the company continue to grow and create new jobs here."

The facility is more than 240,000 square feet across two buildings and includes a Discovery Center allowing visitors to learn about Schneider Electric's energy management and innovation history.

"As we imagined the design of the new campus, it was important to us to leverage our own technology and create a facility that enhances our customers' experience while exemplifying Schneider Electric's core objective of making the most of our energy," said Laurent Vernerey, President and CEO of Schneider Electric's North America Operations. "With the integration of a world-class R&D center and employees from multiple disciplines housed under one roof, the new Boston One Campus demonstrates Schneider Electric's commitment to our North American customers."

The clean energy industry has seen tremendous growth in Massachusetts, with 11.8 percent job growth in the last year and 24 percent growth in the last two years; nearly 80,000 people are employed in the clean tech industry in the Commonwealth. Since taking office in 2007, the Patrick Administration has made capturing the environmental and economic benefits associated with clean energy a top priority, including a focus on connecting the brainpower coming out of Massachusetts colleges and universities with research and development centers like Schneider Electric's new facility. Clean energy research and engineering jobs grew by 32 percent between 2012 and 2013, the largest growth of any activity tracked by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report. For the past three years, Massachusetts has been ranked as the number one state for energy efficiency policies and programs the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

"The growth of Schneider Electric is an example of the burgeoning technology sector here in Massachusetts and further proof that the Commonwealth is an innovation leader," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. As we focus on a "Make it in America' approach to business, I applaud Schneider for working to maintain their presence here in Massachusetts and open job opportunities to our skilled workforce, all while aiming to provide cutting edge energy solutions."

"I am proud to officially welcome Schneider Electric's new global Research and Development center to Andover," said Senator Barry Finegold. "The company's new global headquarters will serve to increase our clean energy industry and boost the Commonwealth's reputation as a hub for innovation technology right here in our backyard."

"I am very pleased that Schneider Electric has chosen Andover as one of their locations for a Global Research and Development Center," said Representative Frank Moran. "This will help create jobs in clean energy in the Merrimack Valley."

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