More than 130 jobs could be created after computer chip giant Intel announced plans for a new research centre in the mid-west.
The US multinational, which ten days ago moved to cut 300 posts at its flagship Kildare plants, is to expand its R&D business in the Shannon Free Zone, Co Clare.
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said growing the level of R&D investment by new and existing multinationals in Ireland is a key Government priority.
“Knowledge is now the key to competitive advantage in smart economies,” the Tanaiste said. “Today’s investment announcement by Intel gives very real meaning to our ambition to develop Ireland’s smart economy, and is a wonderful testament to the highly talented skills base at Intel Shannon,” she said.
Intel said the investment could create 134 jobs over the next four years in the Shannon area bringing the total employment to approximately 300.
Vincent Cunnane, chief executive Shannon Development, said: “This major investment at the Shannon Free Zone is a further vote of confidence in Shannon as a competitive location for high-tech knowledge based investment on a global scale.”
The investment will support two separate R&D projects developing the next generation of microchips for small to medium sized businesses and a second software development plan.
Intel Ireland’s Jim O’Hara said: “We are facing significant challenges in the global economic environment.
“However, it is important to recognise that we have weathered cyclical slowdowns before, most notably at the beginning of this decade . . . just as the Shannon operation came into existence.”
The investment was secured with the support of IDA Ireland. Barry O’Leary, IDA Ireland chief executive, said: “Securing this investment by a leading company like Intel is an endorsement of both the availability of talented people in Ireland and the ‘Team Ireland’ approach where the collaborative effort of state development agencies, local authorities and educational establishments results in winning new investments.”
Earlier this month, Intel’s manufacturing operation in Leixlip, Co Kildare, were told that the company expects to seek 200-300 voluntary redundancies in April.
The move is part of a wider cost cutting at group level which saw Intel announce the closure of five factories in the US, the Philippines and Malaysia in January.
At that time the company, which is the world’s largest maker of computer chips, said it would be seeking an additional 1,000 redundancies worldwide.
Additional reporting PA