Irish Government invest €60m in advancing 'Silicon Island'
The investment will contribute to the fit-out of a new 17,000-square-metre research facility at Tyndall in Cork.
Ireland’s ambition to become a major force in the global semiconductor industry is set to receive a significant boost, with the Government preparing to approve a €60 million investment for the Tyndall National Institute early next year.
A proposal from James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is expected to go before Cabinet on January 13, according to senior sources. The funding will be the first allocation under the newly launched €750 million Inspire research infrastructure programme and forms a cornerstone of the State’s Silicon Island national semiconductor strategy.
The investment will contribute to the fit-out of a new 17,000-square-metre research facility at Tyndall in Cork. The overall project is valued at approximately €153 million, with previous financial backing secured from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 framework.
As Ireland’s flagship deep-tech research institute, Tyndall plays a central role in strengthening national capabilities in semiconductors. It has a strong international standing, hosting three of the five pilot lines established under the EU Chips Act. These pilot lines are advanced facilities designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale production, enabling R&D, testing, design and early manufacturing of next-generation microelectronics. They form part of a €3.7 billion pan-European initiative to accelerate semiconductor innovation.
Tyndall also coordinates I-C3, Ireland’s Chip Competence Centre, one of 27 such centres being rolled out across the EU. These centres support SMEs, startups and scale-ups with technical expertise, funding access and innovation services to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Ireland’s semiconductor sector already comprises more than 130 indigenous and multinational companies, supporting around 20,000 jobs and generating €13.5 billion in annual exports. Under the Silicon Island strategy, the goal is to double the sector’s size by 2040, increasing employment to 34,000. The strategy aims to attract global leaders such as Nvidia, Samsung and TSMC, while nurturing home-grown startups and spin-outs, securing high-value jobs and cementing Ireland’s role in Europe’s semiconductor future.
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