Intel unveils Irish-designed chipset

The first Intel chipset product designed and developed at its facility in Co Kildare has been unveiled.

The Galileo board, which contains the Quark SoC x1000 chip, was shown at the Maker Faire conference in Rome today. The chip will carry a “designed in Ireland” trademark.

The project is the result of a collaboration between IDA Ireland and the chip giant, and has taken three years to develop.

The Quark SoC is the first product from the Intel Quark family of low-power, small-core products, a technology that is expected to push Intel into areas seen as rapid growth, such as wearable computing and connected devices.

Intel Ireland's general manager Eamonn Sinnott said it as a great day for the Irish facility, describing the launch as "the culmination of years of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering vision".

“Both of these new technologies were designed right here in Kildare,” he said. “The Quark SOC will enable a host of low power devices in wearable technology and the internet of things.”

IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary, said it was testament to the expertise and skills levels that Intel has built in its Leixlip facility.

“ The development of this chip here in Ireland shows that we can compete with any location in the world when it comes to developing and manufacturing leading technology,” he said. “This design project represents a significant coup for Ireland. This project puts Ireland in the list of top countries in the world for chip design.”

Intel currently employs more than 4,500 people in Ireland and has invested more than €6 billion in its facilities since its establishment in 1989.