Jaguar Land Rover will locate their new research and development centre in Shannon, leading to the creation of 150 new jobs. The Shannon facility will play an important role in realising the company’s vision for electric and automated driving vehicles. New technologies will be developed at the test facility to support electrification and self-driving features including the next generation of electrical architecture as well as advanced driver assistance systems. This is an ideal opportunity to make Shannon a globally recognised centre of excellence for current and future software engineering talent and recognising Shannon as a centre for R&D for autonomous vehicles. The MASP supports transformative projects which provide strategic opportunities for the Metropolitan Area such as the development of a Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testbed in Shannon.
Limerick has recently become a “Lighthouse Smart City” as part of the EU Research and Innovation funding programme, Horizon 2020. Lighthouse cities develop, and tests integrated innovative solutions at district scale and act as exemplars across Europe. The +CityxChange (positive city exchange) is a smart city project. Limerick City along with partner cities will work together to develop through citizen engagement a series of demonstration projects on how to become smart positive energy cities. This MASP supports the establishment of Limerick as a “Smart Lighthouse City” as proposed under the + CityxChange project The focus in Limerickwill be on the development of a new “community grid” , the use of smart meters, innovation in new energy sources (including hydrokinetic energy) and storage, to create a ‘Positive Energy District’ in Limerick City Centre. A Positive Energy District contributes more energy than it consumes. Limerick’s demonstration project will be centred in the Georgian Innovation District in the City Centre (Georgian/Newtown Pery areas).
Limerick-Shannon MASP Policy Objective 12
A Smart Metropolitan Area and Strengths in Attracting FDI a. It is an objective to seek investment and improve quality in high speed, high capacity digital infrastructure and to seek access for all to digital infrastructure in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area subject to the outcome of environmental assessments and the planning process. b. It is an objective to seek investment in the initiatives of local authority Digital Strategies and investment in initiatives to deliver a greener, more innovative and smarter city and Metropolitan Area. c. It is an objective to deliver high capacity ICT infrastructure and high-speed broadband so peripheral locations can interact more successfully
with larger urban centres and the Metropolitan Area. d. It is an objective to seek investment in the sustainable development of initiatives of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in strengthening enterprise assets, fostering competitive locations and conditions for enterprise growth in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area. e. It is an objective to implement and develop novel technologies, build a sustainable knowledge base and engage citizens in digital transformation, while minimising the risk of digital inequalities in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area. In this regard it is an objective to support the Limerick Digital District and to accelerate Limerick’s transition to becoming Ireland’s first digital city
8.4 | Employment Distribution The delivery of business and enterprise potential is dependent on understanding and identifying the main economic drivers and removing obstacles. The Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area meets these key elements as a business location of choice.
local authority. Additional locations may become available and this MASP recognises the need for flexibility to accommodate future growth opportunities that may emerge during the lifetime of the MASP. In particular, it is recognised that a new Northside Business Campus could be identified and developed. Future growth proposals should be consistent and integrate with the Limerick-Shannon MASPs aim of revitalising and reinvigorating Limerick City for higher-density living and high-density, high-value jobs.
The Limerick-Shannon MASP identifies strategic employment locations within the Metropolitan Area. However, achieving NPF growth targets will require consideration of new locations and initiatives by each
Future growth in employment will place additional resource demands on the local economy. As an open
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