Ireland's expanding innovation landscape
Ireland's innovation landscape thrives on the importance of human connections and creativity. The National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation aims to bring together - in a unique, no-nonsense and highly pragmatic way - a wide range of national institutions to help create new knowledge and leading-edge research outcomes.
Here, business and academia, government, funding agencies and regulatory authorities work as a team, creating a fast-growing, dynamic research environment - in the words of one investor: 'with the scale of a country and the speed of a start-up'. The result of this high-level connectivity is that Ireland is becoming one of the new global centres for science-based R&D and for innovation. Ireland is empowering some of the world's biggest companies to research, develop and commercialise world-class products, processes and services.
Long-established partnerships with global corporations have been at the core of our success in attracting leading-edge R&D activities.
In 2006 IDA Ireland supported 54 R&D investment projects, including many prominent global corporations. The names speak for themselves: CISCO, GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, Intel, IBM, Bristol-Myers Squibb. These corporations are supported actively by the work of higher education institutions and of renowned global research organisations located in Ireland, such as Georgia Tech Research Institute and Bell Labs.
Citibank
Citi and its predecessors have had a presence in Ireland since 1965 and was one of the first foreign bank's to open an office in Ireland. The company now employs over 1,500 in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Dublin. Citi is the largest employer in the IFSC and one of the largest foreign banks in Ireland by employee number.
The bank provides financial services and products for a wide range of global customers. The scope of products and services have evolved over time to now include: cash management, rate risk management, (FX and interest rates), funding, investor products, corporate finance, trade services, custody, trustee services, fund administration, transfer agency, shareholder services, outsourcing and treasury solutions.
Citi Ireland has continued to develop and expand the company's operations in Dublin in support of it's growing global business. In May 2001, the Central Bank of Ireland issued a banking licence in the name of Citibank Ireland Financial Services plc. This bank was renamed Citibank Europe plc in 2006 to reflect the level of regional and global business being managed by the company.
In July 2005, Citi Ireland announced the creation of a Research and Development Centre with an investment of €10 million. This is the first ever-dedicated R&D Centre established by Citi worldwide.
A track record of success
Ireland's success in innovation spans a wide range of businesses and sectors. For example, some of the most exciting Irish-based product development has been in medical technologies. Over half of all the medical technologies companies based in Ireland have dedicated R&D centres. Some examples of cross sectoral innovation and research;
Boston Scientific used researchers in Ireland to develop and launch the world's first drug-coated stent.
Bristol-Myers Squibb's Swords Laboratories is the launch site for several new healthcare treatments used to treat hypertension, cancer and HIV/AIDS.
GlaxoSmithKline's latest Irish R&D project involves groundbreaking research into gastrointestinal diseases, in collaboration with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in University College Cork.
Microsoft marked its 20th Irish anniversary in 2006 by opening a new R&D centre employing 100 highly qualified staff. The centre is working on a wide range of projects, including Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) and SmartCard security technology.
Intel, a significant supporter of education and training in Ireland, is engaged in several research collaborations with leading Irish universities, including Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and NUI Maynooth. Intel's Irish operation is the global headquarters for the company's Innovation Centres.
Analog Devices' long established R&D operation is heavily integrated into its Irish operation. Its 335-strong team has sole responsibility for the global design, manufacture and supply of value-added high voltage, mixed signal CMOS products.
Alcatel - Lucent Bell Labs Ireland, one of the world's most eminent research institutions, has established its Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain- Driven Research in partnership with Trinity College Dublin and seven other higher education institutions. It is undertaking research aimed at realising the next generation of telecommunications networks.
Georgia Tech Research Institute's new Irish operation, based in Athlone, will be a key component of Ireland's innovation infrastructure. It is building up a portfolio of research programme and collaborations with industry which at full operation will employ 50 highly qualified researchers.
Wyeth has established a bio-therapeutic drug discovery and development research facility at University College Dublin. It will utilise new technologies to discover the next generation of therapeutic biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases.
At an academic level, just one illustration of the integration in R&D activity in Ireland is Dublin City University's Biomedical Diagnostics Institute. It is carrying out cutting edge research programme focused on the development of next generation biomedical diagnostic devices.
ABB Limited
ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies.
In 1984, Accuray Industries of Ohio established a plant in Dundalk to manufacture Paper & Pulp Quality Control Systems (QCS) for the European market. Accuray subsequently became part of ABB, through ABB's expansion to become the lead player in the world Paper and Pulp market.
In 2002, Dundalk became the global manufacturing site for QCS.
In 2003, Dundalk won the mandate for Global HQ and Centre of Excellence for QCS. Dundalk assumed responsibility for R&D, global sales & marketing, customer training and support, technical support, logistics management, finance for this industry worldwide. The R&D function introduces new technical developments in the areas of actuator development, physics, electronics, software, mechanical and electrical engineering.
Collaboration and co-operation through Innovation Networks.
Corporations today are pursuing a globally-distributed, network approach to innovation. University programmes and company R&D activities reach across borders in search of collaborative partnerships. Companies can reap the rewards of innovation most easily through a global ecosystem in which firms, universities, and governments work together.
According to Forrester research, Ireland is the leader in a ranking of how far 26 industrialised countries benefit from a trend towards 'innovation networks' - partnerships between companies or countries which are thought to be more effective than keeping research and development to oneself.
Joining forces for innovation.
Countries placed towards the right of the chart are deemed to be strong on strategy, with those towards the top considered to have a strong current offering. Countries not falling into the three bands ('contenders', 'strong performers' or 'leaders') are judged to be 'risky bets'. The size of the dot indicating each country's position denotes its presence in the world market.
The study, carried out by the US research consultancy Forrester, identifies 'transformers' - countries that are effective at taking developments from other nations or companies and turning them into commercial products. Source: Forrester Research Inc 2006.
Investment highlights of 2006
Abbott - established a manufacturing facility for diabetes care products in Donegal.
Actel Corporation - set up a European Processor Development Centre in Dublin.
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) - expanded its shared services centre in Westport, Co. Mayo.
Amazon.com - multi-lingual customer services centre in Cork.
Amgen - $1billion process development, bulk manufacturing and fill and finish facilities at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork.
Avaya Inc - R&D Centre at Irish headquarters in Dublin.
Becton Dickinson & Company - development and expansion of medical devices global manufacturing centre in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Cargotec Corporation, Moffet Engineering - further expansion of advanced manufacturing and research functions in Dundalk.
Cisco - world class R&D Centre in Galway.
Citco - hedge fund administration centre in Cork.
Cordis - new state-of-the-art development and manufacturing facility.
Eli Lilly and Company - Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing facility in Cork.
Georgia Tech Research Institute - Georgia Institute of Technology establishe an applied research institute in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
GlaxoSmithKline - groundbreaking research project in collaboration with Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in UCC.
Google - expansion of EMEA Headquarters in Dublin.
HP Financial Services - expansion of EMEA headquarters in Leixlip, Co. Kildare.
IBM - celebrate 50 years in Ireland by expanding its Technology Campus and activities in Dublin.
Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd - Formulation R&D and manufacturing facility at it's Tipperary operation.
NETGEAR, Inc - set up its International Headquarters in Cork.
Northern Trust Corporation - established a fund administration operation in Limerick.
PepsiCo Inc - next generation R&D Centre of Excellence in Cork.
Pillar Data Systems Inc - EMEA Headquarters in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Sage Group - International Localisation Centre and European Data Centre in Dublin.
SanDisk Corporation - new EMEA headquarters for Dublin.
Servier - new high-value manufacturing pharmaceutical facility in Kilkenny and an expansion of its Arklow site.
Trend Micro - expand its EMEA Operations Centre in Cork.
USCI - research, manufacturing and distribution centre for vascular products in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Vesta Corporation - European Operations Centre in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Vistakon - expansion of its Limerick advanced manufacturing facility.
Vodafone - established a centre of excellence for personalisation and storage technologies in Dublin.