Xilinx Ireland is understood to be planning a major expansion of its operations at Citywest business park in west Dublin, which could see its workforce increase from 250 to around 1,500 before the end of this year.
The company, which produces programmable chips, is in negotiations with IDA Ireland on a further "significant development". Xilinx Ireland received planning permission in March from South Dublin County Council for a 238,642 sq ft site comprising three three-storey block buildings capable of accommodating well in excess of 1,000 people. This would equate approximately in size to one of Intel's fabrication (fab) plants.
This week Xilinx took the unusual step of hosting its annual board meeting at Xilinx Ireland, the first time the event has been held outside the US, where the company was founded.
It is understood no decisions on the Irish operation were scheduled for the meeting, although an industry source indicated the decision to expand in Ireland had already been taken.
Mr Paul McCambridge, managing director of Xilinx Ireland, said: "I cannot comment on any significant expansion plans for Xilinx Ireland. However, the industry will experience good growth over the next two years, and Xilinx will be expanding in various areas."
Heading up the Xilinx board visit to Dublin, was its 77-yearold founder and chairman, Mr Bernie Vonderschmitt. Mr Vonderschmitt is best known for his pioneering role in the introduction of colour TV when he worked for New Jersey company, RCA in the 1940s. At 58 he decided to do an MBA, and afterwards founded Xilinx as an offshoot of Xilog, the chip-making division of Exxon.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Vonderschmitt would not comment specifically on expansion plans in Ireland, but said: "The educational structure for Ireland has moved at an enormous pace, which suggests you want to look seriously at taking advantage of that. The Government is also very favourably inclined to make Ireland a good place to invest."
Xilinx currently employs 1,700 people worldwide, which would make the Irish expansion its largest to date.
Earlier this year, a team of engineers at Xilinx Ireland developed a revolutionary programmable chip, Spartan II, which has attracted the interest of technology experts everywhere, and made the Irish operation the jewel in the Xilinx crown.
At the time, Mr McCambridge said the breakthrough opened up many opportunities for Xilinx developers to produce new products every nine months, and he envisaged a potential increase in the Irish workforce to around 1,800 people.
Spartan II can be programmed remotely to perform a range of different functions on electronic devices. An example might include a television set-top box being converted remotely from a television receiver into a games console, or a television recorder, by transmitting the required processor logic and software over the cable connection.
Xilinx customers include 3Com, Nortel, Hewlett-Packard, NEC, Boeing and Ericsson.
It recorded revenue growth of 50 per cent to its financial year end in April. Revenues increased to $1.02 billion (€1.06 billion) from $662 million the previous year. Its profit for the year was $257.6 million.
