Intel R&D expansion to create 134 jobs

COMPUTER software manufacturer Intel has announced a €50 million expansion of its operations in Shannon with the potential to generate 134 jobs over the next four years.

The investment will involve two separate research and development projects, the first a hardware project involving the creation of a new chip which will enable the next generation of computer products, as well as providing small-to-medium sized businesses with a combination of improved performance, power efficiency and cost effectiveness.

The second software development project will address price and power consumption constraints. It will bring employment at the Shannon facility up to 300 staff.

“We are delighted with the expansion decision,” said Intel Shannon general manager Jonathan Walsh.

“It comes as the result of our world-class track record of research and development over the last eight years, the highly developed technical marketing competencies and also our success in attracting the highest quality research talent, domestically and internationally. Our continued growth will be fuelled by the availability of top-class engineering graduate and post-graduate students,” he said.

Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan said: “Knowledge is now the key to competitive advantage in smart economies. Growing the level of R&D investment in Ireland is a key Government priority. Today’s investment announcement by Intel gives very real meaning to our ambition to develop Ireland’s smart economy and is a wonderful testament to the highly talented skills base at Intel Shannon.”

Jim O’Hara, Intel Ireland general manager, said: “It is a source of great satisfaction for me to see how the Shannon team, working with our manufacturing facility in Leixlip, has been gearing itself up to take on ever-increasing challenges and responsibilities for more of the development process. Yes, we are facing significant challenges in the global economic environment.

“However, it is important to recognise we have weathered cyclical slowdowns before, most notably at the beginning of this decade with the fall-out from the ICT shock, just as the Shannon operation came into existence. In our highly competitive... global markets, success is hard-earned, establishing a high performing team with strong technical, managerial and leadership skills is critical to being able to build new products that lead in the marketplace. This makes a genuine contribution to the advancement of Ireland and of Ireland in Europe.”