By Business & Finance 
Microsoft Ireland is the Business & Finance FDI of the Month November 2020
Microsoft Ireland is the Business & Finance FDI of the Month November 2020. In November, the multinational technology company announced the creation of 200 engineering roles to strengthen its existing Dublin-based team of over 600. The company also unveiled details and images of its new €27 million engineering hub at its campus in Leopardstown, Dublin.
This investment is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland praised the announcement, calling it a demonstration of Microsoft’s “continued commitment to Ireland,” which highlighted “the attractiveness of Ireland’s value proposition despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Speaking at the announcement, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said that “this is great news from Microsoft […] Not only are they creating 200 new jobs, but they are also creating a new €27 million engineering hub. This investment builds on decades of commitment by Microsoft in Ireland and further strengthens the country’s position as a centre for innovation in Europe.”
Mr Varadkar continued: “Our focus in the months ahead will be to rebuild Ireland’s economy in a manner that will be sustainable. We need to protect and create in-demand jobs fit for our digital age. A growing engineering talent pool is crucial in helping to imagine and create the solutions that Ireland will need to rebuild and recover. By positioning Ireland as a leader in engineering, we can help enhance Ireland’s competitiveness into the future.”
The new engineering hub, named One Microsoft Court, is a 10,000m2 facility located a few steps from Microsoft’s flagship building, One Microsoft Place. The building aims to engage engineers by creating an environment that supports ‘work and fun.’
At the heart of the new engineering hub is The Garage, a space and concept that is already established at Microsoft’s Seattle campus and at 10 other worldwide locations. It is a physical space – with digital programmes introduced while managing through COVID-19 restrictions – where employees with ideas can use technology to solve a wide range of societal or business challenges.
Microsoft opened in Ireland in 1985 with a small manufacturing facility employing just over one hundred people. In over three decades the group has increased its international mandate with approximately 163,000 employees worldwide. Microsoft officially opened its Windows Live EMEA Data centre in 2009 at Grangecastle, Dublin.
