Tech company's expansion plan a vote of confidence in Cork 

THE $127 million investment by Qualcomm Technologies’ to expand its research and development facility in Cork city has been welcomed as a vote of confidence in Cork, highlighting its profile as a hub for innovation.

Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy described the investment, which will lead to 150 new highly skilled engineering jobs in Cork, as “a signal of Qualcomm’s commitment to Cork”.

Mr Healy said that by further investing in its research and development facilities and capabilities, Qualcomm is “highlighting Cork’s profile as a hub for innovation among leading tech companies”.

“This announcement is another chapter in Qualcomm’s ongoing success story in Cork where its operations first began in 2013 with just four employees, that figure now stands at 500,” he said.

“This investment will further grow their workforce with the creation of 150 highly skilled engineering roles over the next four years, which is another hugely positive development for the Cork region.” Mr Healy said the additional jobs created “will also deepen Cork’s talent pool further boosting the region’s reputation as a great place to live, work and invest in”.

“It is also a testament to the university ecosystem that exists here in Cork and Qualcomm’s partnerships with UCC, MTU and Tyndall,” he said.

Qualcomm Technologies provides critical advanced semiconductor technology to mobile communications and other industry sectors.

Headquartered in San Diego California, Qualcomm Technologies has had a presence in Cork since 2013, where QT Technologies Ireland already employs hundreds of people.

The expansion of facilities in Cork seeks to create and develop core new knowledge for a broad range of industries, significantly advance skills capability in its subsidiary, QT Technologies Ireland, and advance the skillset of QT Technologies Ireland’s R&D team.

Supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, the expansion will see hardware and software research teams co-locate in the Cork facility.

The Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Simon Coveney TD said: “QT Technologies Ireland’s expansion at Penrose Dock is fantastic news for Cork. Up to 150 specialised jobs will be created over the next four years, and I understand recruitment is already underway for many of these engineering posts.

“These roles will provide excellent opportunities for our talent pool to join a world-renowned tech company".

“At the heart of this project is digital transformation, bringing QT Technologies Ireland’s R&D, hardware and software teams together in Cork, and allowing for innovative and exciting new work to be undertaken.

“This announcement further highlights Ireland’s position as a global hub for the world’s leading tech companies, and I would like to thank Qualcomm Technologies for its continued investment in Ireland. I wish all the team every success with this new expansion.” The senior vice president of Engineering at Qualcomm Technologies Inc, Ajay Bawale, said: “We are excited about this investment in QT Technologies Ireland where we continue ground-breaking engineering work.

“This project will introduce new highly specialised skills into Ireland and QT Technologies Ireland is currently recruiting engineers across several areas.” 

The vice president of Engineering at QT Technologies Ireland Limited, Paul Kelleher, said: “We are very proud that this project means the highly skilled teams in Cork will be addressing market challenges by enabling industries such as manufacturing, automotive, hyperscale computing, gaming, medical and education.” 

The CEO of IDA Ireland, Michael Lohan, said the QT Technologies Ireland facility in Cork city has grown from strength to strength since 2013 and welcomed its development of critical leading-edge tech in a regional location.

“This latest investment increases the strategic functions managed by the leadership team at the Cork facility, significantly enhancing the South West of Ireland’s established tech cluster,” he said.

“I wish QT Technologies Ireland continued success and assure them of IDA Ireland’s continued partnership.”