Qualcomm Technologies named Cork Company of the Year 

Collecting the prestigious award at the Cork Chamber Annual Dinner held at City Hall is Paul Kelleher, VP Engineering at Qualcomm, with Chris Wood, Partner – Audit, KPMG Ireland, awards sponsors, Rob Horgan, Cork Chamber President, Naoimh Frawley, Director of People, Operations & Governance, Cork Chamber and Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO.  Picture: Darragh Kane

Technology giant Qualcomm Technologies was named Company of the Year at Cork Chamber's annual dinner last night.

The Californian company specialises in wireless technology and advanced semiconductors. It was selected as both the International Category winner and the Overall Cork Company of the Year 

Qualcomm's Cork operations, headquartered at Penrose Quay, serve as a strategic R&D hub. Earlier this month, the company announced it is investing €125m in operations in Cork, which will see the number of employees here pass 1,000.

Other winners announced last night were: The Sibly Food Co, who won the Emerging Category award, Réalta Technologies, which was the SME Category winner and EPS Group, who won the Large Company category.

Accepting the award, Paul Kelleher, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Technologies Ireland, said: "Cork continues to be an outstanding location for our teams and our investment in AI, advanced computing and next-generation technologies. This award reflects the dedication of our people, the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to contributing to Cork’s innovation ecosystem.”

Now in its third decade, the awards delivered in association with KPMG Ireland and media partner The Irish Examiner, honour companies that exemplify leadership, innovation and a strong contribution to regional economic growth.

In his speech, Cork Chamber President Rob Horgan spoke of Cork’s growth trajectory to date, and looked ahead to Cork’s next chapter. “We have attracted international investment while growing strong indigenous enterprise. Ireland, and Cork in particular, relies on an open economy. Our businesses trade internationally, our supply chains cross borders, our tourism depends on connectivity and confidence, and our prosperity depends on stable, predictable global relationships.

“If Cork is to compete globally for people and ideas, we must continue to be a place of welcome, a place where those who choose to come here, whether to work, to study, to invest or to build a life, find communities that are open, inclusive and ready to share this wonderful corner of the world that we call home.”

Mr Horgan, who concludes his two-year term as Cork Chamber President this year, also paid tribute last night to Chamber Chief Executive Conor Healy for his 20 years of service in the role.

"Joe Gantly is widely credited for leading Apple's foothold in Hollyhill. He is also responsible 20 years ago this week for a major change to the shape of Cork Chamber, It was Joe who went to the board of Cork Chamber in 2006 and told them that Conor Healy was the new CEO of Cork Chamber. Since then, Conor has put the promotion of Cork through the name of Cork Chamber to the front of every decision locally, nationally and globally. Cork Chamber is now the textbook example of what all chambers want to be," he said.