Power of light to create 200 Cork tech jobs

A €30m research centre that will harness the power of light aims to create 200 jobs over the next six years.

Research Minister Sean Sherlock will announce the establishment today of the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) at the Tyndall National Institute in Cork.

The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) facility will bring together over 100 researchers from Tyndall, UCC, CIT, and DCU, and 18 industry partners to develop light-enabled technologies.

Through about 30 research projects, they aim to use light to revolutionise the speed of data transfer, to create more energy-efficient devices, and deliver new smart medical devices.

It is hoped that through the research, and the commercialisation of the new photonic technologies, the centre will help to create up to 200 jobs in the sector over the next six years.

Mr Sherlock said the centre would place Ireland in prime position to grow its share of Europe’s €58bn photonics market, and will also act as a hi-tech start-up base with new company, X-Celeprint, committed to creating up to 20 jobs.

“IPIC represents one of the strongest research teams in Europe. This investment of €20m of taxpayers’ money, with an additional €10m from industry, is further proof of the Government’s commitment to Irish research,” said Mr Sherlock.

IPIC director Paul Townsend said the launch of the facility represents an exciting new chapter in photonic research in Ireland.

Today’s announcement comes just days after some Siptu-represented researchers, engineers, administration, technical, and IT staff at Tyndall picketed the facility in a row over pay.

Siptu said a pay difference in the order of 10%-20% exists between a large number of Tyndall employees and their counterparts doing the same or similar work on UCC main campus.

Mr Sherlock said a job evaluation process is under way and that it must be given time to conclude.