The US firm which makes some of the world’s toughest and strongest protective cases and products for smartphones and tablets has opened its new European headquarters in Cork.

Any delays to the €100m upgrade of the Dunkettle interchange will have “disastrous consequences” for Cork’s growth and have knock-on effects for key infrastructural and housing projects.

Up to 100 new research posts will be created at Tyndall National Institute in Cork as part of a €20m investment into so-called "disruptive technologies".