€8 million Catalyst HQ project will create 350 jobs over 15 years
An artist's impression of the enterprise hub which will be based on O'Brien Road in Carlow town
MINISTER for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment Peter Burke has announced that an €8 million regional innovation and enterprise hub for the South-East is to be set up in Carlow and will create 350 jobs over 15 years.
The Minister launched the Catalyst HQ project in Enterprise House on O’Brien Road in Carlow town on 4 December, alongside representatives from Carlow County Council.
Under the plan, two buildings are to be built on O’Brien Road by 2028, with construction due to start in the spring of next year. One of the buildings will be a 915 square-metre single-storey light industrial building, while the other will be a 1,369 square-metre two-storey office building.
The aim of the project is to provide integrated support for manufacturing, export-focused enterprises and technology-driven businesses based in Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford.
Carlow businessman David Walsh, who led an entrepreneurial advisory panel for the project, said the initiative is a “game-changer for the South-East”.
He added: “This investment on O’Brien Road by Carlow Local Authorities, supported by Enterprise Ireland, will accelerate entrepreneurship, drive innovation and support meaningful job creation across the region.
“It will feature a community of experienced entrepreneurs willing to support the next generation, and an ecosystem of professional services essential for starting and scaling successful businesses.” The project will aim to help businesses with less than ten staff to scale up, while also helping larger businesses to develop further.
“Micro-businesses with a staff of 10 or fewer are the largest employment group in the South-East,” said Kieran Comerford, Carlow County Council Head of Enterprise and Economic Development.
“However, in Carlow, just 17% transition to small businesses which is below the 28% regional average. Catalyst HQ has been designed as a transformative regional asset that will empower businesses at every stage of their growth journey,” he added.
Funding for the project has been secured through Enterprise Ireland and the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme.
South-East Catalyst Innovation Company CLG (trading as Catalyst HQ) will lead the project development, in collaboration with Carlow County Council, Carlow Chamber, Propellor BIC, SETU, Carlow County Development Partnership and a specialist panel of enterprise advisors.
Over the first 15 years of the project, 175 direct and an additional 175 indirect jobs will be created.
