Qualcomm Technologies, a US-based semiconductor and technology company, is accelerating digital transformation in Ireland with a €125 million investment in its Cork unit, aiming to establish a world-class research and development centre for artificial intelligence. 

Supported by IDA Ireland, the initiative will unfold over the next three years.

The expansion will add approximately 300 highly skilled jobs, bringing the total Cork workforce to over 1,000, and diversifies the site’s focus beyond mobile technology. “Transforming the site into a strategic AI hub means that decisions and innovations generated locally will have a global reach,” the company said.

The investment will fully fund research, development and innovation activities, with hardware and software teams co-located to optimise collaboration and accelerate product development cycles. The new structure will support a holistic approach, integrating hardware with AI-driven software to increase processing efficiency and innovation speed. The centre will also feature upgraded laboratories and state-of-the-art testing and validation infrastructure.

Qualcomm’s diversification strategy focuses on high-growth areas including advanced computing for PCs and edge devices, extended reality (XR) and virtual reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), connected vehicles, autonomous driving technologies, and AI accelerators for cloud computing infrastructure.

The company emphasises the multiplier effect on the local ecosystem, highlighting that the new roles will span software engineering, hardware design, AI research, and project management. This expansion aims to strengthen Cork’s reputation as a technology and innovation hub, attracting elite talent and encouraging further investment in the region.

With the total team surpassing 1,000 employees, Qualcomm Cork is now one of the largest technology employers in Ireland, demonstrating a long-term commitment to advancing AI and supporting the local economy.

Explore the full details of Qualcomm’s AI hub and its impact on Ireland’s tech ecosystem in the complete article.

(Photo credits to IDA Ireland’s LinkedIn)