IBM La Gaude
| Company type | Research facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer research and telecommunications |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Fate | Operations ceased in 2015; activities transferred to IBM Innovation Center Nice |
| Headquarters | La Gaude , France |
Key people | Marcel Breuer (architect) |
| Products | IBM 1750, 2750, 3750 Switching Systems; IBM 270x communication controllers and modems |
Number of employees | 1500 (1987) |
The IBM La Gaude Study and Research Centre (Centre d'études et recherches IBM La Gaude) functioned as a computer research facility for IBM located in La Gaude, near Nice on the Côte d'Azur. During the 1990s, it evolved into a showcase centre for IBM Business Solutions. IBM ceased operations at this location in 2015.
Pioneering computer-controlled business telephone systems
At the La Gaude site, French IBM engineers were responsible for creating the first-ever computer-controlled business telephone systems worldwide, representing a major breakthrough in telecommunications innovation.
1962 move from Paris to La Gaude
In 1962, IBM shifted its French research and product development laboratory from Paris to a newly constructed 35,000-square-metre complex designed by architect Marcel Breuer. The facility, set on 23 hectares near La Gaude, was conveniently close to Nice airport and aligned with the decentralization initiatives of the French government.
The initial team of 700 engineers expanded to 1,500 by 1987. The campus was enlarged with additional buildings B2 in 1969 and B3 in 1978. Between 1984 and 1986, earthquake-resistant modifications were added. The staff comprised professionals from various parts of Europe and the United States. By 2015, activities were transferred to a more modern centre closer to Nice.
Product development
IBM La Gaude was responsible for creating telecommunications equipment intended for IBM’s international markets. For the European region, it developed the IBM 1750, 2750 and 3750 Switching Systems, recognized as the first electronic computer-operated business telephone systems commonly referred to as PABXs (Private Automatic Branch Exchanges). On a global scale, engineers at La Gaude designed the IBM 270x range of communication controllers, modems, and other related IBM devices.
In 1963, IBM La Gaude established a satellite communication link with IBM Endicott in the United States, enabling data transfer speeds of up to 3,300 words per minute.
Departure from La Gaude
On 25 October 2007, more than 200 employees staged protests against the planned transfer of staff to AT&T.
By August 2015, nearly 530 IBM employees relocated from La Gaude to the newly inaugurated IBM Innovation Center Nice, situated within the high-technology district near Nice. Some personnel continued working at IBM La Gaude, whose premises are also utilized by other organizations.