Google to open The Foundry, a new innovation centre in Dublin

23 Jul 2013

Internet search giant Google is building a 15,000 sq-foot digital innovation centre in Dublin’s Docklands that is expected to attract up to 15,000 extra business visitors from abroad each year.

The Irish Times reported that new centre, to be called the Foundry, is the company’s first such investment outside the US.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to open the new facility, located in Google’s building on Barrow Street, in September. More than 70 conferences are already booked at the Foundry for later this year.

The centre, which will host conferences and research events for SMEs across the EMEA, houses a 360-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, and catering and broadcasting facilities, according to The Irish Times,

The Foundry will also be home to a shop selling Google merchandise, the company’s first such store outside of its headquarters in Mountain View, California. The shop will not be open to the public, however.

The Irish Times reported that Google has not mentioned the value of the investment, but that the company has been working on the project for more than a year.

Google sign image via Shutterstock

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com