AMD, Intel, Moto to face Austin poachfest

The opening of an Intel R&D centre in downtown Austin has caused concerns about hi-tech firms poaching each other's engineers, with jobs at a premium in the area. At the beginning of last week, Real Estate News, reported that Intel will spend $100 million building a semi design plant which will hire up to 2000 people. But there is already concern about the shortage of skilled chip engineers in Austin, which already has facilities belonging to Intel rivals AMD and Motorola, as well as an IBM R&D centre. Two years ago, Motorola and Intel were involved in a bitter legal spat after the former accused the chip giant of hiring engineers at its former Somerset PowerPC plant, and wooing trade secrets away with them. Now, according to local newspaper, the Austin Business Journal, there are fresh concerns in the city following last week's announcement. The newspaper reports that there is a shortage of skilled staff in the neighbourhood, but also quotes Intel and Motorola representatives as saying that they are unconcerned about a possible poachfest. More than one Intel facility in Austin is planned, with the company saying that in addition to microprocessor design, it will also hire DSP engineers and staff to aid its StrongARM chip programme. Intel claims that it hopes to recruit nationwide, and also to strike agreements with the large University of Texas campus based in the city. ® Related Story Intel under fire for green belt development Link You can find the Austin Business Journal report here