Ireland punches above its weight for innovation and third-level education

We are in the second strongest tier across the EU, performing at between 100% and 125% of the EU average

Ireland has the highest share of firms in Europe using artificial intelligence.

Ireland is punching far above its weight when it comes to innovation and third-level education, outperforming the EU average, according to the European Commission's latest findings.

Innovation is broadly defined as developing new methods, ideas, and products to advance civilisation. Examples include researching and developing products all the way to market in fields such as medical devices, an industry in which Ireland has become a global player.