The government said the strategy is critical to ensuring Ireland remains competitive in attracting the next wave of large, high-value manufacturing investment opportunities in sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences, and renewables.
The Irish government has signed off on a strategic approach to developing next-generation (NGS) industries that are considered vital to the country’s competitiveness and industrial plans in attracting future manufacturing investment.
The development of the NGS will be led by IDA Ireland and the Department of Business, Tourism and Employment, with collaborative efforts to be made with other Government departments, agencies and service providers as required for the development and improvement of each site.
The government said the strategy is vital to ensuring Ireland remains competitive in attracting the next wave of manufacturing opportunities for large, high-value investment in sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences and renewables.
The goal of the NGS approach is to provide pre-approved, well-organized land banks with clear ways of delivering the necessary services and transportation, including public transportation, so that investors can develop quickly and with certainty.
Minister for Business, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD said a “system-led” approach to NGS development would help Ireland win “high-value, job-rich projects in future-focused sectors”, with three sites expected to be created over the next 15 years.
Each site is predicted to be between 500 and 1,000 hectares, each in the west, east and south of the country, although potential locations will not be publicly disclosed to protect the integrity of future negotiations and acquisitions.
The government said preparing sites in advance would reduce risk and speed up decision-making for investors, “which is essential to compete for large-scale investments in today’s fast-paced global environment”.
It said each location would be selected by IDA Ireland because of its ability to connect well to energy, transport and water networks, as well as its proximity to talent, tertiary institutions and supply chains.
“The sectors targeted by NGS – semiconductors, life sciences and green energy, in particular – provide high-quality work and skills, pay high wages and contribute to Irish tax receipts,” Burke said.
He added that “many global companies in the semiconductor and life sciences sectors have located and expanded in Ireland over the past few decades”, and now employ tens of thousands in “well-paid jobs, several now operating in multiple locations”.
The signing of NGS is in line with the Government’s national ‘Silicon Island’ strategy for semiconductors, launched last May.
This strategy is part of the Government’s Plan, is in line with the European Chips Act and the EU Digital Decade, and aims to charge more for the country’s semiconductor industry through skill development, increasing R&D, development of the domestic semiconductor ecosystem and attracting foreign investors.
The program is also committed to developing large production facilities with the necessary infrastructure, developing R&D capacity and supporting businesses operating in the semiconductor industry with commercial support and access to finance.
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