Irish ICT Cluster

Thèmes abordés

Irish ICT, Cluster, Technology

Résumé du document

Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of information and communications technology (ICT) activity and employment in the OECD (organisation for economic co-operation and development) and in the world. This Cluster is largely concentrated in the Dublin area, with smaller regions in Cork, Limerick or Galway. Over the last decade, Ireland has experienced the fastest growth rate of output and employment of any country of the OECD and thanks to the sophisticated ICT Cluster, Ireland has the highest proportion of high technology industries represented in its manufacturing exports.

Extraits

[...] Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of information and communications technology (ICT) activity and employment in the OECD (organisation for economic co-operation and development) and in the world. This Cluster is largely concentrated in the Dublin area, with smaller regions in Cork, Limerick or Galway. Over the last decade, Ireland has experienced the fastest growth rate of output and employment of any country of the OECD and thanks to the sophisticated ICT Cluster, Ireland has the highest proportion of high technology industries represented in its manufacturing exports. This activity comprises both electronics hardware manufacturing, such as PCs, and software products and services, especially business application products. [...]

[...] It has largely been driven by foreign direct investment though recent evidence suggests that the indigenous software industry is now growing at a much faster rate than the multinational sector. In computer software, Ireland has the largest market share of FDI in Europe with 55% of the total (for 2000) and it is about the same for teleservices or back-office activities. As a result of the top 25 computer firms in the world have manufacturing operations in Ireland (Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Sun, Xero etc.). [...]

[...] Government's Role As we have seen before, the government has an important role regarding the success of the ICT Cluster in Ireland. These are the main points underlying before: Adapt training to “fit” between its educational system and the needs of a competitive economy. [...]

[...] of business application software sold in Europe is produced in Ireland in 2005). Related and Supporting Industries The role of the government is also very important to create competitive advantage thanks to low taxes to encourage companies coming in Ireland characterised as the “Flexible Development State”. As a result of the top 25 computer firms in the world have manufacturing operations in Ireland (Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Sun, Xero etc.) The “national innovation system” means that there is a strong link between investment in research and innovation and sustained economic growth because companies would like to develop intellectual infrastructure to “root” overseas companies in Ireland Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry The two main kinds of companies that are present in the ICT Cluster: multinational & indigenous companies are not really direct competitors. [...]

[...] It is feasible in Ireland thanks to good market conditions, EU membership, and thanks to the Ireland's human resource base (quite young). Then, to create a more competitive advantage, Ireland government had decided to align employees skills with those required by companies (thanks to high level of education) and that is why Ireland was ranked in 1998 first of the world for the “fit” between its educational system and the needs of a competitive economy. The role of the government is also very important to create competitive advantage thanks to low taxes to encourage companies coming in Ireland. [...]