Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2018
369. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken by the IDA to attract companies operating in the augmented reality and virtual reality sectors to invest here; the investment that has been successfully secured in the sector; her plans to attract future investment opportunities in view of the expansion of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10046/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the interaction the IDA has had with an annual conference (details supplied); the support it has provided to this event which attracts significant interest throughout the national and international augmented reality and virtual reality sectors; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Invest NI was among the supporters of this event; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10048/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra373. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the conferences and events focused on augmented reality and virtual reality the IDA has been involved in; the plans for participation by the IDA in these events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10050/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 371 and 373 together.
IDA Ireland is committed to diversifying the type of investment attracted to Ireland. The Agency has, with that goal in mind, established a specialist Division to examine new forms of investment, including opportunities in sectors such as Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.
Ireland now has a growing base of investment by technology companies in this area. IDA Ireland client companies who are part of an AR/VR cluster in Ireland include DAQRI, Intel, Valeo Vision Systems, Microsoft, Accenture, Google, Facebook and SAP. The Agency has also identified and engaged with a number of other AR/VR companies overseas with a view to bringing more such investment to Ireland.
As part of its work to attract investment by companies in emerging technologies to Ireland, the Agency participates in a number of global AR/VR conferences each year. The IDA, for example, supported the AR/VR Innovate conference in Dublin in 2015, including through a client dinner in the margins of the event. The Agency’s staff will continue to participate in future events that have the potential to attract investment from overseas AR/VR firms, with the aim of both attracting new employment to the country and developing the sector further here.
