By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland; Taoiseach Simon Harris, TD; Tara Roth, Microsoft Ireland Executive Site Sponsor and Corporate Vice President, Engineering, Microsoft, and James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre. Image: Naoise Culhane
Microsoft’s R&D investment will boost AI development in Ireland.
Ireland is set to become a key location for Microsoft’s continued investment in global AI. The company is set to add 550 new Ireland-based engineering and R&D roles to pioneer the development of new AI technologies.
These highly-skilled jobs will be rolled out over the next three to four years, across areas such as software engineering, applied sciences, product management, program management, data science, design, technical writing and analytics.
120 of these roles are available to apply for from today in software engineering, applied sciences, security research, product management and program management.
Taoiseach Simon Harris joined James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre, and IDA Ireland Chief Executive, Michael Lohan, on 1st Novembet to make the announcement.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “I very much welcome Microsoft’s announcement today. Not only does this highlight Ireland’s attractiveness as an investment destination, it also promises a significant boost for the AI ecosystem in Ireland. Fostering AI skills and advancing capabilities in the field are core to the Government’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and this project will help develop new specialist skills and expertise, thereby positioning Ireland for further investment in this critical area.”
The investment will see Microsoft undertake significant industrial research into AI to develop technology in the area of AI and cyber security, which will then be made available to public and private sector organisations globally..
Microsoft first invested in Ireland in 1985 and with the addition of the roles recently announced, the company will employ more than 6,000 people across a multifunctional campus in Leopardstown, its data centre campus in Grange Castle, and LinkedIn.
This investment is supported by the Government of Ireland through IDA Ireland.
