Bosch Group establishes R&D centre for automotive electronics in Ireland

Limerick, Ireland 18 August 2021 – Bosch, the global supplier of technology and services, has announced the establishment of an Automotive Research and Development Centre in Limerick, creating 30 jobs over the next two years. Focus of the activities in Limerick will be on semiconductor products as well as automotive electronics.

The location in Ireland’s Mid-West has a rich history in the design and development of semiconductor products, going back almost 50 years. More recently the region is emerging as a hub for automotive software and system development. The establishment of Bosch’s Automotive R&D Centre in Limerick recognises the increased demand for semiconductors as cars evolve to become sustainable, safer and more exciting.

Initial development at the facility will include integrated circuits (IC) for 77GHz radar sensors, which has applications for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Collision Avoidance and Adaptive Cruise Control as well as radar technologies for automated driving.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD commented on the announcement: “I’m really pleased that Bosch is opening a new research and development centre in Limerick, creating 30 new highly-skilled jobs over the next two years. Ireland is recognised as a global hub for leading technology innovators like Bosch. This new automotive R&D centre will help them to benefit from our rich talent pool in the Mid-West. I wish the team the very best in this exciting new chapter.”

Dr. Oliver Wolst, Senior Vice President Development of Integrated Circuits, Bosch said: “We’re very excited about the possibilities that this new facility will provide to us. Bosch is a global leader when it comes to investment in research and development and this new facility in Ireland demonstrates our commitment to working with the best engineering talent to develop the most advanced technology for our customers.”

IDA Ireland Executive Director Mary Buckley said: “The decision by Bosch to establish its automotive R&D centre in Limerick further enhances the region’s reputation as an emerging hub for software and automotive systems. It is also a strong endorsement of the talent available in the Mid-West region, particularly in the areas of engineering and design. With this announcement Bosch will be well-equipped to meet the growing demand for semiconductors in automation and I wish the company success with their operations here in Ireland.”

Mike Keaveney, Bosch Radar Architect & R&D Centre Limerick Manager, said: “It’s very satisfying to see Bosch’s new R&D facility come online in Ireland. This is a great opportunity for the team whose background in integrated circuits, married with Bosch’s deep system level knowledge in automotive, can develop truly innovative and performance-optimised products to meet the needs of tomorrow’s cars. Working with the talented engineers here, and the teams across Europe that we are now part of, is particularly rewarding. Our next focus is on growing the local team. There’s a lot of talent in and around the region and we’re looking to hire more engineers with the skillsets needed to develop state of the art integrated circuit products.”

Recruitment and job opportunities

Over the next two years, Bosch will be hiring IC Design and Layout, Radio Frequency Measurement/Evaluation, Software and Firmware Engineers. To explore opportunities at Bosch’s new facility in Limerick, visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/BoschGroup/uk or click here:

• IC Layout Engineer - https://smrtr.io/6n6cZ

• Embedded Software/Firmware Engineer - https://smrtr.io/6n5ZW

• RFIC Design Evaluation Engineer - https://smrtr.io/6n5X6

• Senior IC Design Engineer - https://smrtr.io/6n9Ht

• IC Design Engineer - https://smrtr.io/6n5X8

Bosch contact person for press enquiries:

James Bolton,
Media Relations Lead
Phone: +44 1895 87-8049
James.Bolton@uk.bosch.com
@BoschUK

IDA Ireland contact person for press enquiries:

Alison Nulty,
Regional Communications Executive:
Phone: +353 87 3492590
alison.nulty@ida.ie
@IDAIreland

Bosch is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chips for mobility applications and has been making semiconductors for more than 60 years. In 2019, every vehicle newly registered worldwide had an average of more than 17 Bosch chips on board. Bosch has been making vehicles smart since the 1970s, when it started equipping them with its application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Bosch is at the forefront of this growing market. In 2020, some $440 billion (€385 billion) worth of semiconductors were sold worldwide, an increase of around 7% over 2019 (source: World Semiconductor Trade Statistics [WSTS]). WSTS estimates that the market will grow roughly 11% in 2021, to $488 billion (€427 billion).

In the semiconductor market, the ultimate discipline is making chips for vehicles. In a car, chips are exposed to strong vibrations and extreme temperatures that range from far below zero to far above 100 degrees Celsius. This requires higher standards for the toughness of these special components. Developing semiconductors that can withstand these stresses for a vehicle’s entire lifetime is an intensive process. Here is where Bosch leverages its special dual role: while other companies can process the information collected from semiconductors, Bosch can also apply its deep understanding of the physical principles at work in the chips, and of how to gather the data and ultimately integrate it into the vehicle systems. Bosch holds over 1,500 patents and patent applications for engineering and manufacturing its semiconductors.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 410,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2018). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales from operations of 77.9 billion euros in 2018. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected manufacturing. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 125 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 69,500 associates in research and development.

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861−1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse