The project hopes to increase Ireland’s research impact, enterprise engagement, global competitiveness and create new jobs.
A more than €100m expansion plan aims to revamp Cork’s Tyndall National Institute, with plans to double the organisation’s physical footprint over a three-year period.
The major investment, funded under the National Development Plan, will “significantly strengthen Ireland’s global position in cutting‑edge semiconductor research and innovation,” commented Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD.
This multi-year project marks the first development plan to progress under Lawless’ new €750m research infrastructure and talent programme ‘Inspire’.
The expansion programme comes via a joint funding mechanism between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; and University College Cork (UCC), and will progress under capital development governance structures within the university.
It is expected to increase Ireland’s research impact, enterprise engagement, global competitiveness and create new opportunities for collaboration, talent development and industry partnerships.
The project “will support breakthroughs in AI, quantum technologies and next‑generation computing – delivering economic growth, creating high‑skilled jobs and advancing Ireland’s wider knowledge‑economy ambitions”, Lawless added.
Tyndall is a deep-tech research centre based at UCC, and is one of Ireland’s largest research and technology organisations specialising in chips, quantum, materials and devices. Its expansion is seen as a step in the direction toward reaching Ireland’s goals of becoming a leader in semiconductor technology.
Last year, the Government launched a semiconductor strategy called ‘Silicon Island’, a part of the Programme for Government aligned with the European Chips Act and the EU Digital Decade.
As a part of the strategy, the Government also hopes to secure industrial investments, including for a regional edge fabrication facility, two trailing-edge foundries and an advanced packaging facility.
“Tyndall already contributes enormously to Ireland’s RDI and competitiveness in the semiconductor sector, a strategically important sector for Ireland and the EU,” said Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD.
“This expansion is a major step in further realising our ambitions to strengthen our research capacity, promoting a robust national talent pipeline and industry partnerships in the semiconductor sector,” he added.
Tyndall board chairperson, Dr Denis Doyle said, “Government investment in Tyndall’s expansion will give us the infrastructure to scale our research and drive innovation across the semiconductor value chain, strengthening our role in delivering the EU Chips Act and advancing Silicon Island.”
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