Investment of €125m in Qualcomm site.
Pictured above from left: Anne-Marie Tierney Le-Roux; Colin Ryan; Minister Peter Burke, TD; Paul Kelleher; Jennifer Kenrick; Michael Lohan; and Minister Jerry Buttimer, TD.
Qualcomm Technologies has announced a €125 million investment to transform its Cork city operation into a strategic centre for artificial intelligence, significantly expanding its footprint in the region over the next three years. The investment is expected to support the creation of approximately 300 new roles, increasing the company’s workforce in Cork to more than 1,000 employees.
The announcement follows a $127 million investment in the Cork site in 2023, which led to the creation of 150 jobs. Qualcomm first established operations in Cork in 2013 and has since built strong links with Ireland’s higher-education sector, including University College Cork, Munster Technological University and the Tyndall National Institute, supporting talent development through internships and graduate recruitment.
A global leader in wireless technologies and semiconductors, Qualcomm is best known for its Snapdragon processors, which power a wide range of mobile devices, laptops and extended reality (XR) platforms. The latest investment will see the Cork facility play a broader role in the company’s global strategy, supporting research, development and innovation across areas such as AI, XR, the Internet of Things, data centres and automotive technologies.
The expansion is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the investment reinforces Ireland’s ambition to lead in advanced research, next-generation computing and artificial intelligence, while also supporting Silicon Island, the national semiconductor strategy.
Qualcomm executive vice-president Colin Ryan said the announcement reflects the strength of the company’s partnerships in Ireland, adding that the investment confirms Cork’s position as a key global R&D hub and underlines Qualcomm’s long-term commitment to Ireland’s innovation ecosystem.
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