One hundred and seventy new research jobs will be created in a €50 million expansion programme at the Tyndall National Institute, Ireland's largest information and communications technology (ICT) research centre.

The investment at the institute's Cork facilities will create a landmark complex of some 15,793.5sq m including a new laboratories building and a substantial upgrading of the existing infrastructure.

Dedicated space for industry researchers and a new incubation facility to provide appropriate accommodation and support to start-up companies in the ICT area are also incorporated.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said yesterday that the expansion would confirm Tyndall as a world class research facility.

"The institute has a current employment level of 330 researchers (including almost 100 PhD students) and is a significant employer in the area. The new investment programme will allow the institute to significantly increase its researcher numbers to 500 within the next four years, at which point Tyndall will be generating over €40 million of research income annually."

Tyndall is one of Europe's leading research centres, specialising in hardware for ICT. It was established in 2004 as an initiative of University College Cork, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Science Foundation Ireland.

It brings together researchers from the University College Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology and the National Microelectronics Research Centre. The objective was to create a research institute, which would become a focal point of information and communications technology in Ireland, to support industry and academia nationally and to increase the number of qualified graduate students for the "knowledge economy".

Tyndall undertakes collaborative research and related work for some of the world's leading ICT companies including Intel, Analog Devices and Hewlett Packard, as well as providing vital support to Irish high-tech companies.

Mr Martin said the Tyndall Institute had moved Ireland up the ICT value chain. "This expansion will ensure that Ireland continues to offer top class research facilities and graduates to companies which are pushing the boundaries in many areas of science.

"The institute is playing an important role in ensuring that the goals of the Government's Strategy for Science and Innovation are met. In particular, our aim to double PhD numbers by 2013," said the Minister.