Intel to close research and development facility in Shannon

Staff at the facility will be offered the opportunity to move to remote working. 

Intel is set to close its research and development office in Shannon, Co Clare by the end of next year with staff to be offered the opportunity to move to remote working.

Intel Shannon’s Research and Development (R&D) campus in Shannon opened in 2000 with approximately 300 people working at the facility. Intel’s R&D business employs 750 people across the entire country.

The move is part of the company’s broad-based cost savings plan which was announced in August which includes a reassessment of its global estate footprint. There are no job losses expected as a result of this move.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Intel said the company is “shifting our global real estate strategy” in order to focus on “more populated locations”.

“We are still working through plans for each business unit, some employees may transition to different locations or move to remote work arrangements. We will provide more detailed information in the coming months,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that while Intel “currently plan to exit our Shannon site, we remain committed to our presence in the region” 

The closure is due to come into effect by the third quarter of next year. It is understood that most of the facility’s operations will be moved to Intel’s premises in Leixlip.

Last month, the global chip-maker announced that it would be cutting 17,000 jobs from its global workforce as it tries to claw back ground it has lost to rivals in the sector.

The job cuts are part of an effort to cut costs by $10bn (€9bn) by the end of next year.

Intel employs some 4,900 people in Ireland, making it one of the State's largest employers.

The staff working in the Shannon facility will have the same access to voluntary redundancy or early retirements options that are being offered to other Intel staff.