IDA Ireland announces results for 2020, and Tánaiste launches IDA Ireland’s new four-year strategy w

• IDA Ireland announces results for 2020 and Tánaiste launches new IDA Strategy for next four years

• 128 investments - 52% - were outside of Dublin

• Continued focus on Regional development in IDA Ireland’s new strategy
  
  
  Performance 2020

• 52% of  investments went to regional locations

• More than 20,000 new jobs created in 2020

• 246 investments won in 2020 - 95 new name investments

• Numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland grew to 257,394

• Existing base of FDI has shown continued resilience

• Higher job losses than recent years in some sectors
   
   
  New Strategy

• Regions once again at the heart of IDA Ireland’s new Strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 - 2024 alongside Growth, Transformation, Sustainability and Impact

• 800 Investments and 50,000 new jobs targeted in a four-year strategy

• 400 of the 800 investments objective in new strategy targeted at regional locations

• IDA Ireland will deliver 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations over the course of the new strategy

January 7^th, 2021. Dublin. Regional investment continued to grow in 2020 despite the serious economic and social disruption experienced as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, IDA Ireland’s annual results, published today, show.

246 new investments were won in 2020 and 20,123 new jobs were created. 95 investments were from new investors and 151 investments from existing companies. 128 (52%) of the 246 projects won were for regional locations. Employment growth of 3.6% in IDA Ireland supported companies was achieved in 2020. Total employment in IDA Ireland client companies in Ireland now stands at 257,394, accounting directly for 12.4% of COVID-adjusted national employment, up from 10.7% in 2019 as a result of the severe impact of the pandemic on certain domestic facing sectors and the employment growth within IDA Ireland’s client base. Additionally, eight jobs are created in the wider economy for every ten created by IDA Ireland client companies, amounting to estimated total direct and indirect employment of 463,309.

Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar T.D. said: “Despite a year of unprecedented challenges to our economy, these results show that foreign direct investment has been remarkably resilient. We still saw a net increase in FDI jobs of nearly 9,000 in 2020. This is a testament to the attractiveness of Ireland as a destination for companies seeking to invest.
FDI was central to Ireland’s recovery during the last recession and it will be crucial again as we rebuild after the pandemic. As a small open economy, we need both our indigenous and FDI sectors to be strong and built on solid foundations. Around half of all investment made by FDI companies this year went to counties outside of Dublin. We will continue to seek out opportunities for all parts of the country, not just our major cities and towns.

The new IDA Strategy being published today was written in the context of continuing uncertainty with the virus and Brexit. It prioritises growing the regional enterprise base, driving productivity, building a sustainable enterprise base and increasing the spill-over effects from FDI to SMEs. We will continue to keep progress and plans under review over the months and years ahead and adapt to support Ireland’s recovery.”

Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland said: “In the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, FDI’s performance is remarkable.  It is encouraging that Ireland has been able to secure such a significant number (246) of investments and grow employment in 2020, a year of unprecedented disruption to global business and adverse impact on global economies. 
 
246 investments in 2020 compares to 250 investments in the same period last year - an excellent outcome, achieved through a focus on our existing client base and on stronger than anticipated new name performance. Job losses were slightly up on recent years at 4.5%.
 
Sectors such as Life Sciences and Technology were much less affected and, in a number of cases, increased operations in response to demand for COVID related products, mitigating job losses in other sectors. At the end of the year, 52% of employees in IDA Ireland client companies remained working from home, compared to 28% nationally.”

Ireland’s existing base of FDI demonstrated resilience throughout 2020, IDA Ireland’s Divisional Head of Regional Development and Property, Denis Curran commented: “FDI continues to make a significant contribution to the development and growth of Ireland’s regions. Despite challenging global economic conditions, 128 investments were secured for regional locations in 2020. This is a strong outcome highlighting IDA Ireland’s priority of targeting investments for regional locations. IDA Ireland will continue to prioritise regional investments in our new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 where we will aim to win 400 regional investments over the life of the strategy.
 
However, competition for global investment is growing and has never been as intense. To compete for and win investments, regions must have the strongest possible value proposition. This will require regional and national stakeholders working in collaboration to create the conditions that meet and exceed the needs of international investors.”
 
Commenting on the number of investments (128) won for regional locations in 2020, IDA Ireland’s Head of Regional Business Development, Anne-Marie Tierney-Le Roux said: “47% of IDA Ireland’s client base, 755 clients, are located in the regions, employing 144,689 people, which is 56% of overall FDI employment. Our focus on regions continues to pay off and it is most encouraging that investment continued at this level into the regions in 2020, despite the upheaval caused by the global pandemic. Our focus on regions will continue in our new strategy – our objective is to win half of the 800 target investments for regional locations.”

Regional Development remains a core pillar of IDA Ireland’s new strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 alongside Growth, Transformation, Sustainability and Impact.
 
IDA Ireland plans to deliver 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations over the course of the strategy in support of further regional investment. 
 
Denis Curran explained: “The availability of competitive property solutions is a key contributor to winning mobile FDI. The planned building solutions have a geographical spread in line with the National Planning Framework reflecting our strategic focus on regional development. We will also continue to work with regional stakeholders and the private sector to market property solutions to international investors”.

Alongside the delivery of the 19 ABS IDA Ireland will continue to maintain a focus on land banks and utility intensive strategic sites to future proof the ability of our property portfolio to support the project pipeline, most notably large-scale capital-intensive projects which can have significant regional and national economic impacts.

IDA Ireland will also invest in significant infrastructure projects across our portfolio of Business and Technology Parks to upgrade and maintain these key assets in line with the evolving requirements of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies.

IDA Ireland intends reviewing the strategy at its mid-point. Martin Shanahan said: “Given the extraordinarily high uncertainty around the global economic outlook and resulting impact on FDI, we believe a mid-way review is prudent. Towards the end of 2022, we will assess progress and make any adjustments necessary to respond to changes in the global or national environment. While IDA Ireland believes the strategy is directionally correct in its current focus and form, we will be as pragmatic and flexible as required in adapting to circumstances as they unfold.”

To view IDA Ireland’s new strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 visit https://www.idaireland.com/about-ida/driving-recovery-and-sustainable-growth-2021-2024
END
 
Contact
Alison Nulty
Regional Communications Executive
087 3492590  alison.nulty@ida.ie
 
 
NOTES TO EDITORS
 
IDA Ireland’s job creation performance is measured by an annual labour force survey, commissioned independently by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The results are compiled directly from responses given by IDA client companies on their current headcount numbers. This survey measures people in employment in IDA client companies at the end of the survey period only. The survey does not measure, or count, future employment intentions or future job creation plans issued as part of press announcements.
 
IDA Ireland’s new strategy - Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024 
IDA’s new strategy has been developed in the context of the Government’s National Economic Plan. This strategy positions IDA to respond to the emerging trends that are accelerating as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic. 
It identifies the opportunities for sustainable growth among IDA’s established base of clients through a focus on transformative investments to increase the productivity of Irish operations and their workforce through RD&I, digitisation, training and actions on sustainability.
Crucially it also maintains a focus on attracting the next generation of leading MNCs to locate in Ireland, further driving sustainable growth and maximising the impact of FDI in Ireland to 2024 and beyond.
IDA will set out to:
·         Win 800 investments – with the aim of having half of those go to regions
·         Support client job creation of 50,000
·         Drive market diversification
 
Our new strategy will be delivered through a focus on five pillars: Growth, Transformation, Regions, Sustainability and Impact.
·         Under the Growth pillar, IDA will win investment to support job creation & economic activity
·         Under the Transformation pillar, IDA will partner with clients for future growth in Ireland
·         Under the Regions pillar, IDA will win investment to advance regional development
·         Under the Sustainability pillar IDA will embrace an inclusive and green recovery
·         And under the Impact pillar, IDA will maximise FDI’s positive impact on local businesses and communities
 
These five interlinked pillars align with and are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
FDI employment 2020

sults as published in 2019 end of year statement
Total Territory Investments and Jobs
Ireland continued to win the bulk of its investment from North America with 67% investments, an increase on recent years.

 
2019 ABSEI Results – Irish Economy Expenditure (IEE)

* The Irish Economy Expenditure data relates to 2019
2020 Employment Survey: by sector

 
Regional Employment

 
IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme
The timely provision of appropriate, innovative and cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of MNCs that are at the forefront of the modern economy remains essential to winning FDI. IDA’s regional property programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of both IDA and Enterprise Ireland. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects. Over the last 5 years, IDA’s Regional Property Programme enabled the winning of capital-intensive project of significant scale to regional locations.
Ongoing risk aversion, financing challenges and the uncertainty associated with Covid-19 and Brexit are all likely to continue to result in a lack of commercial property solutions in regional locations. IDA therefore must continue to intervene where market failure exists to ensure that the necessary property and infrastructure solutions are in place to maintain and attract FDI to regions in line with our strategic objectives and regional targets. In addition to our own property solutions, IDA will also continue to work with commercial property developers and Local Authorities to market other property solutions across all regions where they exist.
The locations in which IDA will provide property solutions over the lifetime of its new strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024 were chosen based on extensive analysis, engagement, review and consultation as well as macroeconomic considerations, existing clusters and available resources. IDA will deliver 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations: 

• In the Border region, IDA will deliver building solutions in Cavan, Letterkenny, Sligo (x2) and Monaghan.

• In the Mid-East, IDA will deliver building solutions in Drogheda and Dundalk.

• In the Mid-West, IDA will deliver a building solution in Limerick and complete construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

• In the Midlands, IDA will deliver building solutions in Athlone (x2), Longford and Mullingar.

• In the South-East, IDA will deliver building solutions in Waterford and Carlow.

• In the South-West, IDA will deliver a building solution in Tralee.

• In the West, IDA will deliver building solutions in Galway (x2) and Mayo.

 
IDA will also partner with Local Authorities and the private sector to deliver additional buildings in key locations where appropriate. In each region, IDA will invest in significant infrastructure projects across our portfolio of Business and Technology Parks to upgrade and maintain these key assets in line with the evolving requirements of IDA and EI clients. IDA will also maintain a focus on land banks and utility intensive strategic sites to future proof the ability of our property portfolio to support the project pipeline, most notably large-scale capital-intensive projects which can have significant regional and national economic impacts.
 
Brexit
 
Ireland is at the heart of Europe.  Ireland’s continued commitment to the EU is a core part of Ireland’s value proposition to foreign investors. 
As companies seek Brexit solutions that will impose the lowest possible additional costs and the least possible disruption to trade, Ireland offers a base to sustain access to the Single Market, to minimise uncertainty and to grow their business. Now, post-Brexit, Ireland is the only English-speaking common-law jurisdiction fully integrated into the European legal order.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) together with the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, means that Ireland’s key objectives in the Brexit process have been achieved.
Investors continue to assess the impact of the recently agreed deal.
 
IDA Ireland announcements 2020
·         AxiomSL.Limerick. Established business operations centre in Limerick, creating 100 jobs.
·         doTerra. Cork. A manufacturer of essential oils and wellness products, the company announced it was establishing a facility in Blarney creating 100 jobs.
·         Mastercard. Dublin. Launched its new campus site in Leopardstown as its new Technology Hub for Europe, creating 1,500 jobs.
·         UPMC. Kilkenny. Company announced it was opening a global technology operations centre in Kilkenny to support international expansion, with the create of 60 jobs.
·         HubSpot. Dublin. Company commits to creating 450 jobs in Ireland as it announced new office space ‘HubSpot House’.
·         TriggerFish. Galway. The South African animation studio announced it had chosen Galway as home for its first international expansion, creating 60 jobs.
·         Udemy. Dublin.  A global marketplace for learning and teaching online, the company announced the opening of its expanded office in Dublin, creating 100 jobs.
·         BearingPoint Beyond. Dublin. The growing SaaS-based digital platform solution provider announced an expansion of its operations and the opening of a new technology centre in Dublin, creating 50 jobs.
·         Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD). Dublin. Plans to invest approximately €7 million in the company’s Irish operations, opening a new base in Dublin and creating 140 jobs.
·         Amazon. Dublin. Creating another 1,000 permanent jobs in Ireland over the next two years. The new, highly skilled roles will be based in locations across the company’s Cork and Dublin sites in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, the city centre, and north County Dublin, and will bring Amazon’s total permanent workforce in the country to 5,000 people over the next two years.
·         Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ: REGN).  Limerick. Leading, science-driven biopharmaceutical company announced that it will add more than 400 new jobs, bringing total headcount to over 1,400 at its Industrial Operations and Product Supply (IOPS) campus in the Limerick area.
·         Edwards. Dublin. Leading supplier of vacuum and abatement services and solutions to the global semiconductor industry, announced it is establishing a new Service Technology Centre (STC) in Blanchardstown, Dublin to support the semiconductor manufacturing industry in Ireland. The new centre and associated field service operations are expected to employ up to 120 people across activities such as technology, engineering and support.  The development represents an investment in the region of US$7.5 million.
·         Munich Re Automation Solutions Ltd. Dublin. Announced plans to invest approximately €16 million in Horizons, an innovative research & development programme evolving the business from a product to a platform company. The business will recruit a large new team of skilled people, to complement its existing team in Dublin and accelerate the development of new cloud products/services. Munich Re plans to fill up to 60 positions over the coming 24 months.
·         Exida. Shannon. Announced that it has chosen Shannon as the location of a European Centre of Excellence, creating 25 roles over the next five years.
·         Diligent Corporation. Galway. Plans to create more than 200 local jobs in Galway across several business functions, including customer support, customer success, finance, product, HR and marketing.
·         Pfizer. Dublin, Kildare, Cork.  €300 million capital investment in its Irish operations which will support the further development of existing manufacturing sites in Grange Castle, Newbridge and Ringaskiddy. The investment will provide additional manufacturing and laboratory capacity creating approximately 300 roles, with additional anticipated construction roles in Ringaskiddy, Cork.  The investment and additional roles will be completed over the next two to three years.
·         CSC. Wexford. One of the world's largest privately held businesses providing financial, corporate administration, and depositary services to global alternative asset managers and capital markets participants, plans to establish a European Centre of Operational Excellence in Gorey, Co., Wexford, creating 75 jobs over four years.
·         Cadence. Cork.  Opening a new European R&D Centre of Excellence in Cork, Ireland, to further expand local computational software development. Over the next three years, Cadence expects to create approximately 150 new engineering positions in Cork, facilitating customer design advancement in emerging consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace, industrial, mobile and healthcare application areas.
·         Trilateral Research. Waterford.  Plans to add 40 new roles in Ireland over the next four years. The company’s Irish office, based in Belview Port, Waterford, will grow to incorporate the company’s machine learning, AI and software specialisms alongside their research, data protection and cyber-risk services.
·         Tik Tok. Dublin.  Announced that they nearly have 900 employees in Dublin and expect to create at least another 200 roles over the next three months, bringing their total headcount in Ireland to over 1,100 by January 2021.
·         Qualcomm. Cork. Will invest €78m to establish a new Research and Development centre in Cork and is expected to create hundreds of highly skilled roles over the next four years. 
·         Transact. Limerick. Leading integrated payment and credential software solution company for campus environments, has today announced it will create 110 new jobs in Limerick City Centre.
·         UNUM. Carlow. Leading provider of group and individual income protection insurance in the US, UK & Poland, is expanding its Technology Centre of Excellence in Carlow. The Fortune 500 company, with 150 employees in Carlow, originally came to the South East region in 2008. Unum recently expanded workspace at Shamrock Plaza, helping the company enter the next phase of its expansion and exceed the original target of employing 200 people locally.
·         Microsoft. Dublin. Announced the creation of 200 engineering roles to strengthen its existing Dublin-based team of over 600 highly skilled engineers.  The company also unveiled details of its new €27m Engineering Hub at its growing campus in Leopardstown, Dublin.
·         Retail inMotion. Dublin. Global in-flight retail and technology specialist headquartered in Dublin, announced that it will carry out a new R&D project to meet the new demands arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and utilise pioneering technology to drive innovation and improve the passenger experience across all stages of their journey. 
·         IQVIA. Remote Working. Global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and clinical research services to the life sciences industry, announced the creation of 170 remote jobs throughout Ireland.
·         Takeda Ireland. Co Wicklow. Subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, has officially launched the expansion of its production line at its Bray facility. The company which has been established in Bray since 1997 currently employs more than 340 employees at the Co. Wicklow facility in which it has invested €20m over the past two years.
·         Harmac Medical Products (Harmac). Roscommon. Announced a major investment in its facility as it accelerates the manufacturing of surgical masks and non-invasive ventilation products, creating 60 new roles. 
·         MSD. Co Meath. Building a new manufacturing facility at the company’s newly acquired Dunboyne Biologics campus in Co. Meath.  The new facility is expected to create an estimated 140 new jobs by 2025 and will support an innovative new approach to developing and launching MSD’s future biologics medicines. Additionally, the existing MSD Dunboyne Biologics facility expect to hire approximately 100 new employees within the coming year.