Tag: #hub

Kappture chooses Galway as location of game-changing AI software hub

Leading provider of hospitality technology Kappture has chosen Galway City as the location for the expansion of its Software Development Hub with the creation of at least 20 new roles. Currently operating out of The Portershed, the team will focus on the development of its cutting-edge AI platform, BRISK, as well as innovating on its core EPOS solutions.

Kappture works with some of the world’s most iconic live event brands including Croke Park, Thomond Park, six English Premier League clubs, Ascot, Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown, Celtic FC, Olympique Lyonnais, ASM Global and many more.

Developed in Galway, BRISK is a world leading AI computer vision action tracking platform. It’s first application will be for food & beverage retail at sports and live event venues. Using edge compute, BRISK is the first and only solution of its kind to offer instant payments with a human-free checkout experience. BRISK will remove the all too familiar experience of long queues for food & beverages at your favourite sports matches, concerts, and other live events.

The first deployment is now live with Norwich FC with many more planned across Ireland, the UK and globally.

Kappture is backed by Irish private equity investor Renatus Capital Partners.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke said: “Great news that Kappture, a leading provider of hospitality technology, has chosen Galway City for their new Software Development Hub, with the creation of 20 jobs. With a focus on innovative new AI technologies, the new office will provide exciting and transformative job opportunities for the locality. Galway is key hub for technology companies, and I very much welcome Kappture to this thriving ecosystem. Congratulations to the team on this new initiative.”

Kappture is currently recruiting in the areas of computer vision software engineering, software development as well as other commercial and operational roles as it builds out its team. To explore opportunities to join the team visit: Kappture – Careers

Neil Haran, CTO of Kappture said “We are delighted to receive support from the IDA Ireland as we look to expand our activities in Ireland both for BRISK and our core EPOS activities. BRISK is the world’s only solution that can take payments for food & beverages instantly with no human interaction. BRISK has global applications to remove the pain points of queues at live events, to make it a better experience for fans and more efficient for venue operators. Our ambition is to bring highly skilled talent to Galway and to increase its standing as a hub for AI, innovation and creativity”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said “Kappture’s decision to expand its software development operations in Galway underscores Ireland’s growing reputation as a global hub for technology and innovation. Galway, with its vibrant tech ecosystem, skilled talent pool, and collaborative community, offers an ideal environment for companies developing cutting-edge solutions. This investment not only highlights the city’s attractiveness for scaling ambitious tech ventures but also reinforces Ireland’s position at the forefront of AI and digital transformation.”

For more information, visit Experience More – Kappture[AN1]  and see BRISK in action here: BRISK

 

LinkedIn Opens New Dublin Campus

LinkedIn has officially opened its new campus at 4 Wilton Park, consolidating its Dublin operations into a modern, sustainable hub. This brings together LinkedIn’s teams under one roof across 4 and 5 Wilton Park, with a combined footprint of 290,000 sq ft — making Dublin home to LinkedIn’s largest office outside of the United States.
The new campus is designed to support LinkedIn’s evolving ways of working and foster collaboration among its 2,000+ employees in Ireland, who represent 60% of LinkedIn’s EMEA workforce and over 70 nationalities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said:
“I’m delighted to open LinkedIn’s new office at 4 Wilton Park. This expanded EMEA HQ — LinkedIn’s largest office outside the US — is a strong endorsement of Ireland as a destination for global investment. Over the past 15 years, LinkedIn Ireland has grown significantly, now employing over 2,000 people. This is a testament to Ireland’s talented workforce and tech expertise.”
Building on this, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky added: “When we decided to put our EMEA headquarters in Dublin back in 2010, we started with three employees, and now we’re more than 2,000 strong. None of this would be possible without the support of the Irish government and the wider community. We’re excited to continue shaping a brighter future of work together.”
Sustainability is at the core of the campus, which has been designed to operate at net-zero carbon, and is in the process of achieving LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications — among the highest global standards for environmental performance and employee wellbeing. The site features hydroponic gardens producing over 90kg of fresh ingredients per month, rooftop beehives, and a focus on locally sourced food. The project utilised responsibly sourced materials, such as those with recycled content, take-back programs, and bio-based materials.
Another key feature of the campus is the new LinkedIn Dublin Community Space, a free venue for local nonprofits to host events that help connect underserved communities to economic opportunity. Since launching in the previous building, the Community Space has hosted nearly 200 events for more than 300 organisations in the past year alone, welcoming over 10,000 attendees, with LinkedIn employees also volunteering their time and expertise to support these initiatives.
Sue Duke, Head of LinkedIn Ireland, commented: “The opening of 4 Wilton Park, and the significant investment behind it, highlights the pivotal role our office plays in LinkedIn’s global growth. Our team in Dublin is central to delivering LinkedIn’s vision of creating economic opportunity for everyone, whether that’s developing AI tools to better connect jobseekers and employers or working with policymakers on future skills. “
James Geoghegan TD for Dublin Bay South (Fine Gael) also welcomed the opening, adding:
“As a local representative, I welcome LinkedIn’s continued investment in Dublin with the opening of its new offices—now home to over 2,000 employees from 70 nationalities. LinkedIn’s remarkable 15-year journey in our city reflects not only its global success but also its deep commitment to supporting our local community and economy.”

CeADAR and Google Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement to Help Irish Businesses Unlock AI’s Potential

CeADAR and Google Ireland have announced a new strategic partnership to help Irish businesses capitalise on the economic potential of AI. CeADAR, Ireland’s European Digital Hub for AI, and Google signed the agreement at a meeting with the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD at Government Buildings today.

Recent research from Google and Implement Consulting Group shows that widespread adoption of AI has the potential to boost Ireland’s GDP by €40-45 billion. The new partnership between CeADAR and Google aims to support Irish businesses to adopt AI to boost competitiveness and productivity.

CeADAR and Google will focus on building an AI-ready workforce and driving the adoption of AI-powered solutions  through a three-pillar approach:

 

  • Addressing the AI skills gap – this includes tailored learning paths that provide on-demand training for varying proficiency levels, enhancing technical skills in cloud and product mastery while transforming leaders into AI-driven strategists.

 

  • Scaling AI capabilities –  empower Irish businesses to rapidly and responsibly test and implement AI solutions by leveraging Google’s expertise and resources. CeADAR will provide access to Google Cloud resources, including €3M in Google Cloud credits  and advanced AI tools like Vertex AI and Gemini 2.0.

 

  • Investing in the future – preparing Ireland for the next phase of AI through training and mentorship initiatives, for CeADAR staff and interns, building key cloud related skills.

 

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD:

“This partnership between CeADAR and Google is the type of public and private sector collaboration that is needed to ensure we are equipping Irish businesses to benefit from the economic opportunities AI presents. AI has the potential to have a transformative, positive impact on Ireland’s competitiveness and the government is committed to creating an ecosystem where businesses can fully utilise the power of AI to innovate, expand, and compete on a global scale.”

Lorraine Twohill, Chief Marketing Officer at Google said:

“AI presents a tremendous opportunity for Ireland, with the potential to significantly boost the economy. Ireland has built a strong foundation for a safe and reliable AI environment, supported by the Government’s clear ambition to capitalise on this transformative technology. This partnership with CeADAR is designed to help businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities AI brings—transforming how jobs are performed, creating new AI-focused roles, and enabling businesses to thrive in an AI-powered economy. By combining Google’s expertise with CeADAR’s capabilities, we are confident that we can unlock AI’s full economic potential and drive sustainable growth across Irish businesses.”

Dr. John Lonsdale, CEO, CeADAR:

“Unlocking AI’s economic potential won’t happen automatically and requires a proactive approach to workforce adaptation. We have been working with Irish businesses in recent years to help them leverage AI and machine learning but with the dynamic evolution of the technology more can be done to upskill Irish businesses, grow and nurture AI talent and facilitate faster adoption of AI. Ireland has a unique opportunity to harness the wider expertise that exists in our bustling tech sector – bringing our expertise together with Google is one key that can begin to unlock the economic opportunity AI will bring.”

Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said,

“Our researchers and innovators at University College Dublin (UCD) draw on the breadth and depth of their expertise to deliver knowledge and solutions that matter. They are leading the way in fields, such as AI, that are transforming the world around us. Advancing research and innovation is one of UCD’s central pillars guiding the University to break boundaries and to deliver lasting and meaningful impact.

To do so we draw on our strengths and our partnerships, such as this new partnership with Google, to create knowledge and cultivate talent in the areas where that impact can be greatest.  The new partnership announced today will bring together the diverse expertise, strengths and resources of CeADAR and Google to build an AI-ready workforce and drive the adoption of AI-powered solutions boosting the competitiveness and productivity of Irish businesses.”

Workhuman Opens New Innovation Hub in Ireland to Drive Global AI-Product Innovation

Workhuman, the most successful Irish-born technology company and the world’s employee recognition provider, today announces the opening of its new Dublin Innovation Hub at WeWork One Central Plaza, on Dame Street. The expansion adds a central Dublin space to Workhuman’s already strong presence at Park West, Dublin 12, reinforcing the company’s commitment to Ireland as the key driver of its continuous product innovation and advancements of its AI-powered employee recognition solutions.

The new Innovation Hub will serve as a dynamic space for Workhuman’s technology and product teams, facilitating enhanced collaboration and enabling the continued evolution of the company’s product offerings. Designed to facilitate the development and deployment of the company’s new AI product features, the new space will complement the strategic work already being carried out across Workhuman’s team at Park West. Together, these teams will continue to support key AI-product launches scheduled for 2025 and beyond.

Workhuman currently employs over 600 people in Ireland, having hired more than 150 employees over the past 12 months. The company is continuously hiring for roles in product, technology, engineering, and operations.

Speaking of the announcement, Jonathan Hyland, Chief Technology Officer said: “Our new Innovation Hub is a testament to our commitment to creating innovative environments where teams can collaborate, thrive, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. This additional space will support the continuous development of the next-generation of our AI-powered employee recognition product. Ireland is the heart of Workhuman’s product innovation, and we are excited to expand our footprint here, enabling us to further drive our solutions from Dublin to the world.”

Luke Armstrong, Regional President, UKI, EMEA and APAC, WeWorksaid:“Dublin has become a global hub for innovative, fast-growing AI led companies, and Workhuman is leading the way with its AI-powered employee recognition solutions. We’re excited to welcome such a transformative company to the WeWork community and look forward to seeing the continued impact they will drive from our space.” 

Second AI Accelerator Programme for Start-Ups Opens for Applications at University College Dublin

NovaUCD has announced that it is seeking applications from Irish-based start-ups to participate in its 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme.

The focus of this accelerator programme, which is now in its second year, is to support entrepreneurs who are developing disruptive AI solutions in sectors including, healthcare, cybersecurity, education, sustainability, finance, content creation, supply chain and customer service, for a global market.

The 6-month AI Ecosystem Accelerator, which begins in April, will be delivered by NovaUCD, the hub of innovation and start-up activities at University College Dublin (UCD), in partnership with CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI.

Targeted supports for programme participants include guidance from CeADAR’s AI experts, and experienced commercial mentors, along with workshops on value proposition, scaling and investor readiness. Participants will also have access to collaborative co-working space at NovaUCD with the opportunity to connect with successful AI entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporates, investors and access to skilled interns.

Applications are open for the programme via https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/aiecosystem/.

Among the eleven (11) start-ups which completed the inaugural programme were, Customs Window Technologies, a RegTech start-up co-founded by Brian Murphy and Johnny Dunne, and Wrksense, an AI-driven HR tech start-up transforming high-volume recruitment co-founded by Andrew Connolly and Ruaidhrí McDonnell.

Customs Window Technologies and Wrksense announced funding of €800k and €825k respectively during the 2024 programme.

Andrew Connolly, CEO and co-founder, Wrksense, said, “Following the completion of the inaugural AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme, and the insights learnt, we now target a more niche market, targeting companies that align with our overall strategy and product vision. I’d strongly recommend the AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme to entrepreneurs who wish to advance their AI start-ups through the programme’s excellent dedicated technical and commercial supports.”

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme is funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative with funding of €700 million from both the European Commission and the Governments of member states.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, is leading on the EDIH programme for Ireland and CeADAR is the European Digital Innovation Hub in AI for Ireland.

Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, “Following the successful completion of our inaugural AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme, delivered in collaboration with our colleagues at CeADAR, we are delighted to launch our second programme. We are now seeking applications from Irish-based start-ups with novel AI-based products or services, with a validated minimum viable product or proof of concept, and seeking investment this year, to join our next programme and be part of our ecosystem of successful entrepreneurs.”

Dr Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development, CeADAR, said, “The AI Ecosystem Accelerator is one of the key services of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub programme. Run in partnership with NovaUCD the programme will provide entrepreneurs who are leveraging the power of AI with the required support, knowledge and network to accelerate their start-ups from ideation to investment stage.

We encourage entrepreneurs to find out the benefits of accelerating their venture with us and the range of other funded services for companies as part of CeADAR’s EDIH in AI programme.”

Applications are now open until 21 February 2025 for the second AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme via https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/aiecosystem/.

The 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme will commence in April and will end with a showcase event in October.

Ireland Chapter of PMI launches new AI Innovation Hub

The Ireland Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI) today announces that it is launching a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Hub.

Developed to serve as a central hub of AI expertise and education, it will equip the project management profession with the knowledge and skills to integrate AI technologies across their organisations.

By enabling project management professionals to leverage AI in their roles to better manage AI projects, the hub will deliver efficiency and automation to organisations. It will also help to address the challenges associated with AI usage, from ethics to governance.

In turn, companies of all sizes and across all sectors will be empowered to adopt and implement AI – which has the potential to support innovation, boost competitiveness, and drive growth.

This initiative ties in with the significant investment that PMI has made globally in AI over the past 18 months. This includes the creation of an AI platform called PMI Infinity, an AI-powered project management solution designed to strengthen expertise, streamline complex tasks, and maximise project success.

Sponsored by business and IT consultancy emagine and set to officially launch on February 13th, the AI Innovation Hub in Ireland will host a number of events throughout 2025, from lunch-and-learns and webinars to hackathons. These hackathons will see project management professionals deploying AI tools to address specific challenges.

Overseeing these activities is an AI Working Group within the Ireland Chapter of PMI – led by Declan Foster, the newly appointed Head of the AI Innovation Hub. In his role, Declan will leverage his consulting background and experience with his own startup to promote the adoption of AI and enable change management.

Alongside Declan, the AI Working Group includes technical experts, thought leaders and data consultants across multiple sectors such as construction, property and business. The Ireland Chapter of PMI hopes to further grow this group from its now 3,500-strong membership base.

Peter Glynne, President of the Ireland Chapter of PMI, said: “AI is such a hot topic and there’s a lot of talk around it. The aim of our AI Innovation Hub is to cut through that noise and guide the project management profession through this time of AI change, whilst supporting them to deliver AI change over the coming years. Through collaboration and education, we want to help drive real impact with these fast-evolving technologies across all sectors.

“The reality is that every industry needs to be across AI and tuned into the latest developments, such as agentic AI. By tapping into such trends – not just from a knowledge-sharing perspective but practically in our day-to-day jobs – we can enable AI innovation and leadership for the profession, for other sectors, and for Ireland as a whole.”

Gillian Whelan, CEO of emagine, added: “At emagine, we’re empowering our clients to achieve their ambitions by harnessing the transformative power of technology and AI. By sponsoring the AI Innovation Hub, we are proud to support the next wave of innovation, enabling individuals and organisations to unlock new opportunities and excel on their AI journeys.”

For more information on the AI Innovation Hub launch event, please visit pmi-ireland.org

eir ‘2024 Year in Data’ Report Highlights Ireland’s Digital Connectivity and Evolving Habits

eir, Ireland’s largest telecommunications provider, today published its annual ‘2024 Year in Data’ report, showcasing key digital trends across the country. The report offers a detailed view of Ireland’s evolving digital habits, spotlighting notable shifts in home broadband, mobile, and TV usage over the year.

In 2024, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) traffic saw an increase of 38.4%, reflecting the growing demand for high-speed internet across the country. On average, each household used 5,494 Gigabytes (GB) of broadband data in 2024, whereas households with fibre broadband used on average 6,888 GB over the same period.

2024 was also a year of major concerts and events. While Taylor Swift may have dominated headlines, the NFL outperformed her in data usage at the Aviva Stadium. Meanwhile, fans of Pink made more phone calls than Taylor Swift’s audience during their respective summer performances. When it came to sport, football proved to be the nation’s preferred choice, with soccer fans driving higher data usage and phone call activity compared to rugby supporters.

In terms of TV, the Euros 2024 final surpassed The Late Late Toy Show as the most streamed event of the year. On the fixed broadband side, gaming events and chapter releases were the biggest traffic drivers, with the Fortnite update in November claiming the title for the busiest night of the year.

Commenting on the report, Fergal McCann, eir’s Chief Technology Officer said: “In 2024, Irish people have fully embraced technology, both in their home and at major events like Taylor Swift’s Era’s tour. Our ‘2024 Year in Data’ report highlights a clear shift towards more connected, data-driven lifestyles, with a remarkable 38% rise in Fibre to the Home traffic.  This growth reflects the increasing demand for faster, more reliable internet as households, businesses, and communities rely on high-speed connectivity for everything from smart devices in their home to gaming.

At eir, we’re proud to be leading this transformation, continuously investing in next-generation infrastructure to support the changing needs of Ireland’s digital future. As technologies like AI, fibre broadband, and 5G continue to shape our connected world, we remain committed to ensuring our network helps Ireland stay connected and thrive in the digital age.”

2024 key highlights

 Fixed Broadband 

  • Total broadband data usage in 2024 increased by 7.3% versus 2023, with 5,202 Petabytes (PB)  in 2024 v 4,847 PB  in2023
  • Fibre-to-the-Home broadband data increased by 38.4% in 2024 at 2,971 PB, up from 2,146 PB in 2023
  • The most traffic over a single day was 21.8 PB on Saturday 02 November 2024
  • On average, each household used 5,494 Gigabytes (GB) of broadband data in 2024, whereas households with fibre broadband used on average 6,888 GB over the period.
  • The lowest data usage for fixed broadband in 2024 was on Friday 10 May 2024 at 11.6 PB
  • On average, Sunday was the highest data usage day of the week across 2024
  • The total broadband usage across eir’s network (5,202 PB) is the equivalent of 260 billion hours gaming, 15.3 billion hours video chat, 2.6 billion hours film streaming or 800 billion songs streamed

Mobile Network Data

  • The busiest mobile data day in 2024 was July 14th during the Euro Final Spain v England, while June 29th for the Dublin Pride event and July 13th with both Down & Armagh supporters flocking to Croke Park were the busiest days for Roaming customers in Ireland,
  • July and August recorded the highest overall data usage, while May and January saw peaks in voice call activity.
  • The busiest day for outbound roaming was the August Bank Holiday, with many people out of the country.

eir TV 

  • The Euro Final Spain v England on 14th July was the most watched event on eir TV in 2024
  • RTÉ’s Late Late Toy Show on 6th December came in as second most watched. At its peak, the Toy Show accounted for 64% of eir TV viewers down from last year when it accounted for 82% of eir TV viewers
  • Sport accounted for 8 out of the top 10 most viewed listings on eir TV in 2024
  • The Paris Olympics took two of the top 10 most viewed listings in 2024

Key Trends from 2024

  • The Rise of In-Home Devices
    Irish households are rapidly adopting smart technology, with smart security solutions nearly doubling to 30% since 2022 and smart appliances growing to 14% (CSO figures). Over 75% now use internet-connected TVs, while smart wearables and health monitoring tools continue to rise, driving demand for robust broadband to power connected homes.
  • Changing Lifestyles: How AI is Transforming Telco Services
    AI-driven technologies are enabling telcos like eir to deliver smarter, faster, and more responsive services. From optimizing network performance to enhancing customer support, AI is helping providers meet evolving digital habits and user expectations.
  • Future-Proof Technologies Shaping the Way We Live
    The adoption of fibre broadband and 5G is transforming digital lifestyles, with fibre usage up 38% in 2024. These technologies support data-intensive activities like UHD streaming, gaming, and smart home ecosystems, laying the foundation for next-generation connectivity.

JUSPAY Establishes European Hub in Dublin

JUSPAY, a leading provider of next-generation payment solutions for enterprises and banks, has announced the opening of a new office in Dublin, Ireland. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s international expansion, reflecting its commitment to a growing European customer base. Supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, this move underscores

JUSPAY’s dedication to supporting clients and partners across regions. Backed by top-tier investors such as SoftBank, Accel, and VEF, JUSPAY provides full-stack orchestration, checkout experience, payments infrastructure, and value-added services for enterprise merchants, as well as end-to-end payment acceptance and real-time payments infrastructure for leading banks. Headquartered in ‘India’s Silicon Valley’ of Bangalore, JUSPAY already supports market-leading clients across the globe, processing more than 175Mn transactions daily, at 99.999% reliability, with over $670Bn in annual total processed volume.

For merchants, specifically, JUSPAY solves for growing payments diversity and complexity by offering a unified, open-source global payments infrastructure. This ‘HyperSwitch’ solution has already been adopted by industry-leading clients in Europe, as merchants seek to leverage truly agnostic, client-centric solutions. JUSPAY is committed to enhancing and expanding the value-added services of HyperSwitch, from cost observability to end-to-end reconciliation, so as to democratise access to advanced payment solutions for businesses across the globe.

Over the next three years, JUSPAY plans to expand its Dublin team to 30+ professionals, focusing on serving and broadening its customer base of enterprise merchants and tech-forward banks across Europe, as well as internationally.

“Dublin’s thriving tech ecosystem, combined with access to global clients and world-class talent, makes it the perfect location for JUSPAY‘s European expansion,” said Sheetal Lalwani, COO and Co-Founder of JUSPAY. “We are excited to contribute to the ecosystem while driving growth with new and existing clients and partners”

“Having started my own payments career in Dublin, to which I’ve recently returned after a decade-plus leading fintech and banking solutions in Asia, I’m delighted that we’ve selected Ireland as our launchpad for Europe. I personally know the caliber of talent, clients, and partners here – with which we can drive the next generation of payments infrastructure solutions,” said

James Lloyd, Senior Director (International) at JUSPAY. With a team of nearly 1,200 people, and a singular focus on solving payments engineering problems at scale, JUSPAY’s mission includes the application of Artificial Intelligence. Says

Lloyd: “Our payments observability solution, for example, leverages AI and machine learning to optimise payment processing costs by transforming unstructured, diversified payment reports from multiple sources and formats into a structured, actionable output as analysis and trends – placing more power in the hands of our merchant partners. This is just one example of the ‘next-generation’ solutions that we are deploying for our European clients from our Dublin base.”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “I am delighted to welcome JUSPAY to Ireland as they announce plans to hire up to 30 employees at the cutting edge of Fintech in Dublin over the coming years. This demonstrates strong confidence in Ireland as a prime location for Indian and Pan-Asian headquartered companies to expand their business into Europe and aligns with IDA’s strategy to secure FDI from a diverse range of markets. I wish JUSPAY every success in the coming months and years as they establish in Ireland.’’

Taking a Look at Ireland’s Thriving Tech Industry

Whilst Ireland is already known for its gorgeous nature, Paddy’s Day, and the creation of one of the best beverages out there – there’s still so much more it has to offer the world. Chiefly, it has a surprisingly innovative tech sector that has been growing steadily in recent years. But let’s take a deeper look at this below.

The Rise of Dublin as a Tech Hub

Thanks to its strategic location in Europe, Ireland quickly became a base for many tech companies, especially when it comes to US tech giants. Some examples include Google, which has made Dublin its European headquarters and Apple, with a major campus in Cork. Even Uber holds an office in Limerick, while Amazon followed Google’s choice of Dublin for its fulfilment centre.

However, this isn’t simply limited to foreign businesses opting to open a location in Ireland. The region is also home to its own successful companies. One such company is Paddy Power, founded in 1988 in Dublin, Ireland and part of the iGaming sector. The iGaming sector provides uses with access to several online gambling options. For instance, users can play bingo for free at Paddy’s, rather than being limited to physical bingo halls. The sector has welcomed several technological advancements, such as mobile gaming, that ensure the prosperity and longevity of their services. 

These factors have led multiple startups to pick Ireland as their hub, acknowledging the fact that it provides a prime location in Europe. Moreover, strong government incentives and support have further made it the ideal area for such ventures. Some of the best startups in Ireland to watch are Wayflyer, Everseen, and NomuPay.

The Impact of Ireland’s Tech Industry on the Economy

The booming tech sector has positively impacted the economy of Ireland in multiple significant ways. For starters, the revenue of tech businesses tends to be a major contributor to Ireland’s tax revenue, reaching 17% as advised by the Irish Revenue Department. 

The developments have also greatly improved employment rates, with over 120,000 workers in ICT, as per the Central Statistics Office. This number is poised to continue rising as the sector continues growing, creating thousands more job opportunities. This has also led professional talent from all over the world to flock to Ireland, further contributing to increased consumer spending.

In terms of investment, many investors are looking to invest in the flourishing tech ecosystem, making Ireland a great option for investors. Also, since Ireland has been put on the map as a tech hub, it has ensured that other sectors outside of technology choose this place to make their home, further boosting the economy. 

Ireland is poised to become one of the leading countries when it comes to tech, and this will continue to have a far-reaching impact on the economy, employment and investment. As such, whether you’re a professional, business owner, or investor, we’d suggest keeping a keen eye out on anything and everything the Irish tech sector has to offer.