STEM in Ireland

Career Advice • By Chase Talentford • Published on June 11

STEM in Ireland: Where We Are, Where We're Going, and What Needs Attention

By Chase Talentford – Connecting STEM Talent with Purpose

Introduction

Ireland’s rise as a European innovation hub is closely linked to its thriving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sectors. From world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing to cutting-edge AI research and medtech innovation, STEM is more than just an acronym in Ireland — it’s a national engine of growth.

As a specialist jobs platform serving life science employers and professionals, Superhire.ie is deeply embedded in this ecosystem. In this article, we explore where Ireland’s STEM landscape stands today, where it’s heading, and the key priorities that must be addressed to ensure long-term success.

Ireland’s Current STEM Landscape

Ireland's STEM strength lies in its ability to punch above its weight. Though a relatively small nation, Ireland is:

  • The second-largest exporter of medical devices in Europe, with over 300 companies in the space including Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Stryker.
  • Home to 14 of the top 15 global pharma firms, driving substantial employment and R&D.
  • A magnet for tech giants like Google, Apple, Meta, and Intel — all of which maintain substantial engineering and data science teams locally.

According to IDA Ireland, STEM-intensive sectors now account for over 250,000 jobs, with exports worth more than €100 billion annually. The government’s continued support via Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and innovation policies like Innovation 2020 have helped cultivate this high-performance ecosystem.

Notably, Ireland has also become a global centre for biotech, with advanced manufacturing campuses in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, backed by huge investments from Amgen, Pfizer, and Janssen.

Where STEM in Ireland Is Heading

Despite current success, Ireland’s STEM future hinges on proactive strategy in four critical areas:

1. Future-Facing Industries: Deep Tech, AI, and Green Innovation

Ireland is actively cultivating its role in next-generation STEM fields:

  • Artificial Intelligence: With the launch of the National AI Strategy (2021), Ireland has set a roadmap to become a global leader in trustworthy AI. Already, centres like CeADAR (the Centre for Applied AI) are driving adoption in industry.
  • Green Tech and Sustainability: As the EU enforces climate targets, Ireland is accelerating innovation in wind energy, battery storage, and green hydrogen. STEM skills will be vital in scaling these sectors.
  • Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics: Ireland is leading the way with smart manufacturing facilities and Industry 4.0 adoption — critical for medtech and pharma competitiveness.

2. STEM Talent: Supply, Upskilling, and Diversity

Despite strong demand, Ireland faces a STEM talent bottleneck:

  • A 2023 Ibec survey found that 62% of STEM employers struggle to hire appropriately skilled staff.
  • Skills shortages are most acute in data analytics, automation, life sciences, and engineering roles.

To address this:

  • Programmes like Springboard+ and Skillnet Ireland offer reskilling opportunities.
  • Government-backed initiatives such as STEM Passport for Inclusion aim to attract more women and underrepresented groups into science and tech careers.

Still, more is needed to close the gap — particularly in regional access, career mobility, and employer-led education partnerships.

3. Infrastructure and Innovation Clusters

To remain competitive, Ireland must build on its regional innovation ecosystems. Cities like Galway, Limerick, Cork, and Waterford are emerging STEM hotspots.

The development of Advanced Technology Clusters (ATCs) — co-locating academia, research centres, and industry — can help retain talent locally and decentralize opportunity from Dublin.

Investment in digital and transport infrastructure, particularly outside major cities, will also be key to scaling talent access and remote STEM work.

4. Talent Attraction and Retention

Ireland’s appeal to international professionals is strong, but retention remains a challenge due to:

  • Cost of living pressures
  • Limited housing stock in key innovation hubs
  • Visa and relocation bottlenecks

Improving the experience of international STEM workers — from onboarding to community integration — will be essential in keeping Ireland globally competitive.

What Needs Attention: Gaps and Opportunities

For Ireland’s STEM sector to maintain momentum, several structural and strategic questions must be addressed:

a) Early Education and STEM Literacy

Despite progress, STEM subjects remain under-enrolled at second and third level. More work is needed to:

  • Embed computational thinking and science exploration in primary education.
  • Expand teacher training in emerging fields like robotics, sustainability, and digital ethics.

b) Lifelong Learning as a Norm

The pace of tech evolution demands a shift from "graduate and go" models to continuous professional upskilling. Employers, educators, and government must co-create flexible learning pipelines that adapt to new industries like quantum computing, biotech, and environmental engineering.

c) Better Industry-Academia Integration

Stronger links between academia and employers would ensure curricula remain aligned to market needs. Work-integrated learning, internships, and sponsored PhDs can help bridge this gap.

d) STEM Career Branding

Many students and workers still see STEM as abstract, inaccessible, or overly academic. A coordinated campaign to rebrand STEM careers as impactful, creative, and socially relevant could improve uptake.


Conclusion: Building a Resilient, Inclusive STEM Future

Ireland’s future will be shaped by how well it adapts its STEM capabilities to the needs of tomorrow — be it health innovation, sustainability, AI, or digital infrastructure. The building blocks are already in place: elite universities, strong government backing, and world-class employers.

However, sustaining growth means investing not just in tech, but in people — by growing the pipeline, removing access barriers, and improving the talent experience end to end.

At Superhire.ie, we believe that talent is the ultimate innovation multiplier. By matching mission-driven employers with skilled STEM professionals, we aim to power the next chapter of Ireland’s science and technology story.

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