ICSTI Statement on Nanotechnology - Forfás

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Enterprise Ireland is seeking to encourage some forty of its client
companies, mainly from the electronics, medical devices, polymer
and plastics and construction sectors, to use nanotechnology to
improve their products.
Specifically, Enterprise Ireland is seeking to support an increased
number of applied research projects in third level institutions in
nanotechnology that will benefit its clients. It is also seeking to
encourage the establishment of a number of national centres that
will work closely with its client companies on specific projects,
while ensuring a supply of individuals skilled in nanotechnology.
Enterprise Ireland has also recognised that it has a role in
promoting Ireland as a premium nanotechnology location at home
and abroad.
It is clear that Enterprise Ireland has invested significant time
and effort in understanding how it can best assist established
indigenous companies exploit the nanotechnology opportunity.
7.5 Multinational Companies
At the present time there are four multinational companies that
have announced they are exploiting the nanotechnology
opportunity in Ireland.
Intel has headquarters in Santa Clara, California and Irish
operations in Lexlip Co. Kildare. Best known for its Pentium and
Celeron microprocessors, Intel also makes flash memory and
embedded semiconductor devices for the communications and
industrial equipment markets. Intel’s Irish operations are currently
being expanded with the building of Fab 24, to incorporate Intel’s
90-nanometre process technology on 300 mm wafers, the most
advanced semiconductor manufacturing process in the industry.
Fab 24 will be the fourth out of a total of five currently planned
300 mm fabs to be built or converted, and is the only Intel
facility currently planned to execute 90-nanometre-process
technology outside the US. Nanotechnology will enable Intel to
continue to extend Moore’s Law beyond 90-nanometer technology.