Vienna - Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis will close its
bio-medical research centre in the Austrian capital Vienna, the
company said Tuesday, following an announcement that it would slash
2,500 jobs worldwide.
Vienna's Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research, where around
240 employees conduct research in the fields of auto-immunity and
inflammation diseases, will be closed down as part of a global move
to streamline structures, Novartis said.
Novartis plans to cut 2,500 jobs across the board in its
'Initiative Forward.' The company stressed that Vienna's employees
were not to be sacked - the researchers will be offered positions in
other research facilities and for the remainder a social plan would
be prepared within the coming months, a spokeswoman said.
City officials expressed their regret over Novartis' decision,
stressing the city's intention to support the affected staff.
'We regret this very much, (Vienna) is a very successful
location,' trade councillor Renate Brauner was quoted as saying by
the Austrian press agency. 'We will do everything we can that as much
as possible can remain in Vienna,' she said, offering the city's full
cooperation to Novartis.
Union representatives slammed the decision and announced protest
measures.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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