SemiWiki.com - Podcast EP360: IDA Ireland’s Role to Expand Ireland’s Footprint Across the Semiconductor Ecosystem with Anne-Marie Tierney

Episode Date: August 14, 2026

Daniel is joined by Anne-Marie Tierney, Divisional Manager at IDA Ireland. Anne-Marie has 24 years’ experience in the global investment environment with IDA Ireland, working across several key roles in Ireland and abroad, positioning Ireland for high impact investments, with a specific interest in semiconductors. Prior … Read More

Hello, my name is Daniel Nenny, founder of Semaywiki, the Open Forum for Semiconductor Professionals. Welcome to the Semiconductor Insiders podcast series. My guest today is Anne-Marie Tierney, divisional manager at IDA Ireland. Anne-Marie has 24 years experience in the global investment environment with IDA Ireland, working across several key roles in Ireland and abroad, positioning Ireland for high-impact investments with specific interests in semiconductors. Prior to IDA Ireland, Anne-Marie worked in the management consulting business of Price Waterhouse Coopers in London. Welcome to the podcast, Anne-Marie.

Thank you, Daniel. Good afternoon. I'm really delighted to be here. Yeah, it's a pleasure to meet you. So first, let me ask, what brought you to IDA Ireland? So what brought me to IDA Ireland was actually a letter that I received with the recruitment page from a relation in Ireland. I was working in London at the time in the management consultancy business, and it was an advertisement for an organisation called IDA Ireland, and I made an application to a role that I thought would be for, you know, one year, a couple of years.

And actually, what transpired has been nearly 25 years with amazing organisation that has brought me to different parts of the world and doing many, many different roles. So I'm now heading up our global, technology and consumer business and also sit in our executive leadership team at IDA. So seeing things through new eyes and new lens gives an ability to be able to look across the different parts of the organization and brings us to the core and the essence of what we do, which is winning global investments for Ireland. Yeah, that's interesting.

What is IDA's history with Intel? You know, what does Intel's latest 5.7 billion investment in Ireland say about the next phase, of Europe's semiconductor strategy? Well, I think, Daniel, given the state of global business affairs, as it concerned, semiconductors most more broadly, with recent geopolitical developments, with challenges around global supply chain and the advance in Europe of the European Chips Act, the announcement a couple of weeks ago by Intel to invest over $5 billion in Ireland is a real commitment, first of all, by Intel, who first set up in Ireland back in the 1980s.

Being able to make an announcement of such a commitment demonstrates three things we believe. Number one, the deep commitment to Ireland, two, a commitment by Intel to Europe. And thirdly, a commitment to actually a really significant capital investment and investment in growing labour force, which we believe is a really important signal, not just for Ireland, but for Europe. and the future of strengthening of the semiconductor industry in Europe as it stands today. Yeah, Intel success in Ireland is truly notable. So tell me about Ireland's Silicon Island strategy.

How will it strengthen semiconductor R&D and advanced manufacturing pilot lines and workforce development? We have other clients in Ireland. It's a hub for semiconductors. Absolutely, it's now a really dynamic ecosystem. Daniel, 50 of the world's top. 30 semiconductor companies of Ireland as a base within Europe from AMD to Qualcomm to Infinion, ASML. So really punching above its weight in terms of the size of the country as a location

for semiconductor investment. And actually last year when our minister and Minister Peter Burke published our Silicon Island strategy, it really was Ireland's finger in the sand in terms of putting a statement around our ambition as a country for semiconductors. So notwithstanding that Ireland has been home to companies like analog devices since 1976, really the very first flag in the ground on semiconductors right up till now, you know, we have had a 50 year history in the development of a semiconductor ecosystem, a really dynamic ecosystem and base over 50 years. So the publication of the strategy is the bringing together of all of the past story over 50 years, but much more importantly, it sets out the vision for the future. And that's what's different. That's what

really sets us out. And when I listened to Pierre Chastinay in Intel recently talking about the fact that Ireland has this strategy, it really is a very definitive vote of confidence for a country like Ireland to actually have published an industrial strategy that sets out very clear ambitions for advanced packaging, for securing a new leading edge fab, for securing new trailing edge fab. This really puts the ambitions of Ireland very much to the fore globally and clearly within the European context. And in IDEA, Ireland, we see that as really, really important because we are responsible for foreign direct investment and for driving that next. That's the role that I need with the team in terms of securing the next wave of investment, either from existing

companies that are already in Ireland, such as Intel, are those companies that maybe haven't looked at Ireland yet, but they're very much on our two-call list in terms of the strengthening of the ecosystem in Ireland and the offering that we have for companies that are looking at growing investment opportunity within Europe. I agree completely. So why does Ireland continue to attract repeat investments from global chip makers? Well, first of all, they deal with, we would say that they look at Europe and they look at where the ecosystem is strong within Europe. I guess we really value very, very much our strategic relationships with those companies that

are already here. And I guess the secret source is those that have been successful continue to reinvest because with Ireland and with IDEA Ireland, they know what they're getting and they all know very clearly that there is a defined ecosystem, there's workforce development strategies in place, there's incentives available from the Irish government. We have a very advanced research and development regime that companies find attractive and companies equally plug into the very dynamic academic ecosystem that's there. So for example, Ireland is home to Tyndall, which is a very, very prominent academic institution research body in Ireland that supports the

developments in semiconductors from an academic perspective. And companies work collaboratively with Tyndall, the Tyndall Institute in terms of positioning themselves for growing and scaling their contribution to industry from a semiconductor perspective and that's really, really important. So I guess there's the commitment by the existing companies that are here, commitments to three pilot lines that are already underway through European investment and then the strategic focus by the government I guess but if you were to ask me Daniel you know what's the real difference I guess it does come down to people to being able to grow a workforce like Intel has done to over 5,000 people Qualcomm

scaling soon to over a thousand people in a location called Cork you know I think the ability to for companies to be able to grow and operate and scale in Ireland operating from Europe has we believe been really critical to the success of companies and that they know investment opportunities can can work in Ireland and we think that's that's really significant from an IDEA Ireland perspective great so what areas or what sectors will create the next wave of semiconductor growth has AI hit you yet? Absolutely, of course. So, you know, we did a study a couple of years ago with an external consultancy that predicted at the time, you know, that semiconductors would be a 1.3 trillion industry by 2030. And 18 months ago, I thought, wow, that's really ambitious. So right now, July 26, we've already surpassed that. And it shows the scale and growth of the industry. No one could have predicted the scale of AI chip development. and the infrastructure investment that's going to be required to scale the AI ambitions of companies

and the common denominator behind all of this is chips. And from our perspective, we're interested in attracting the next wave of advanced manufacturing activity. And that's what's critical. And I guess that's what we have managed to do as a country over the last seven decades, is that every decade in Ireland has been marked by flagship investments from a research, and development perspective, be it from life sciences companies, technology companies, engineering companies that put a stake in the ground in Ireland and call Ireland home for a discrete function. And advanced manufacturing that capability has been built up very strongly over many decades. So when we look at what we're trying to invest and secure in the future,

it's increased investment for companies that want to expand and enhance their footprint in Ireland, obviously in the guise of under the EU Chips Act, chips act too, but also companies that may be considering a location in Europe for the first time, those that aren't already here. So we're keeping a very close eye on things that are happening east and developing our competencies as well to expand our existing subsupply base to be more attractive to companies that may have more Asia-Pacific origins. So I guess we're looking to secure the next phase of growth and to identify that Ireland would be the location from where these companies will scale and grow. And that's our ambition very much, Daniel.

Yeah, you know, I'm very interested in the growth in Ireland. I think it is phenomenal. But how can Ireland and Europe specifically build more resilient semiconductor supply chains, you know, while remaining competitive with the U.S. and Asia? I mean, resilient supply chains is the key topic for the whole world right now. Yeah, look, and it's the number one topic that's in focus and very much the focus of the European Chips Act clearly as well. It's really significant that we're having this engagement now, Daniel, because Ireland a couple of weeks ago took over the presidency of the European Union. And it's during the presidency over the next six months that the EU Chips Act, the next stages, Ireland, would be clearly in that lead position as a president holding the presidency of the European Union. European Union. But, you know, if you look at the role of Ireland in Europe really came to me

when I was at the Intel announcement recently, where the branding was our Intel Ireland, Ireland, the European foundry, you know, and that that's the positioning. So we're very much looking at the role that Ireland can play in Europe rather than the role that Ireland was playing as an outlier. And I think for many years, Ireland as a member of the European Union was looking inwards rather than looking at the bigger picture. And I think with the focus on resilience at block level rather than individual country level, this is where we believe that Ireland, with our 50-year history plus in semiconductor investment and activity, can really play a critical role in supporting that wider infrastructure. And it's no secret that Ireland is home to the largest

wafer fabrication facility already in Europe. So we, we, are going to position that very, very clearly is that we're not starting from ground zero. We're very much an advanced economy who's looking at the bigger European picture and the role that Ireland can play in strengthening that supply chain. So that's our focus and the companies that have made their investments here are deeply committed to that resilience and to making that work. That's not to say there's not challenges, Daniel, but we're very familiar with trying to manage and battle and engage on challenges across the existing companies that are ready here. We just need to strengthen that for the future.

Great. Yeah, you know, Intel's turnaround is going to keep you guys busy for sure. And the whole world is looking at shoring up their supply chain and guaranteed, you know, Ireland is on the list. So it's been a pleasure to speak with you, Anne-Marie. And I hope we can check in with you again to, you know, monitor the progress. That would be great, Daniel. Look, it's been an absolute honor. all eyes on Ireland for the presidency and keep looking at the announcements for new investments and when we secure the next big one, be delighted to speak with you again. So it's been a real pleasure, Daniel. Thank you so much. Thank you again. That concludes our podcast. Thank you all

for listening and have a great day.