Two news items released on the same day that seem to be on the same page of the book though from very separate sources is not a basis for any kind of scientific analysis – granted. Nonetheless, we were struck by two examples of possible IT return to confidence, one from the supplier and one from the end-user side, that seemed worthy of note.

Item one: data centre specialist Digital Realty Trust says it plans to increase headcount at its Dublin-based European headquarters by no less than 15% within the next year. That’s a sign of real growth, given the firm has already committed E120m in the site in only four years. Yes, it’s a small site – 30 full time staff. But the fact this firm sees Ireland as a sound basis for offshored European operations has got to be great news for the struggling Irish economy – as well as sign-posting the fact that, well, there’s lots of gold still to be found in them thar data centres: this facility is said by the firm to be providing solutions for over 50 Fortune 500 data centre requirements, along with local organisations such top Irish telco Eircom.

Now for item two: a survey by service and asset management specialist Nomura that claims to have uncovered the real state of IT funding across Europe. Based on 300 chats with senior IT decision makers in large companies with 250 or more employees in the UK, France and Germany, the substance of the findings is that 82% say IT funding has been affected in some way over the past two years – notably more so in the UK. A further 52% claimed that the financial value of the IT budget has been affected, either frozen in 18% of cases or of course more likely, reduced (34%).

Did we say this was good news? The majority of respondents in companies where IT funding has been affected now say they do expect investment to improve in 2010/2011 – 60% in the second half of 2010 and 29% think next year.

So in this analysis at least, European IT Managers are described as fighting hard to reclaim lost budget and are generally much more optimistic in 2010. Another nice note for those of us convinced IT too often lets itself be painted into the corner and deprived of its true status by business peers who think it can’t offer innovation, just cost-cutting, is that a third of European IT CIOs here polled say it is in the IT department’s interest to chase the Board for more IT investment.

Admittedly, 63% think the rest of the business may have become so used to the reduced spending that IT budgets across Europe may continue to suffer – but senior IT professionals feel it is their job to fight back, with fully one in three saying they will keep chasing the board for IT investment.

I think this is great and shows, to be frank, some much needed balls. The market is beginning to rise again and opportunity for innovation is here once again. Do you want this chance to slip by and spend even more time paring cost? That’s down to you, I think.