Jenny Melia: Ireland INC – Driving Innovation and Investment in the US Market

This piece originally featured in the Ireland INC US 250 Index 2025, available to read here.

By Jenny Melia, CEO of Enterprise Ireland

Ireland's exporters are redefining global innovation, with the United States as a critical market for their transformative technologies and investments. A prime example is Mbryonics, a Galway-based space tech pioneer founded in 2014 by siblings Ruth, John, and David Mackey. Specialising in optics and photonics, Mbryonics develops optical communications terminals, enabling high-speed satellite data transmission for telecommunications and broadband. With a €17.5 million investment from the European Innovation Council in 2024, the company has scaled to 100 employees and opened its Photon-1 manufacturing facility in Galway in September 2025, with plans for Photon-2 in Shannon. These facilities will create 125 high-skill jobs by 2027, positioning Ireland as a hub for space tech innovation. Supported by Enterprise Ireland and the European Space Agency, Mbryonics' role in the €5.5 billion IRIS² satellite constellation underscores Ireland's ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to the US and global markets.

Irish companies like Mbryonics drive Ireland's outsized economic impact in the US. In 2024, Enterprise Ireland-supported firms exported €6.66 billion to the US, an 8% increase from 2023, making it Ireland's third-largest export market after the European Single Market (€12.7 billion) and the UK (€10.52 billion). The US accounts for 18% of total client exports, with over 950 companies exporting, the top 10 employing 116,000 people and purchasing billions in US goods and services. Ireland, the sixth-largest source of US Foreign Direct Investment at $351 billion in 2023, leads globally in per capita US investment.

Beyond Mbryonics, Irish firms have made significant US investments. Kerry Group, a taste and nutrition leader, has invested over $5 billion, including a $120 million sustainable facility in Rome, Georgia. Operating 70 sites across states like Georgia and Texas, Kerry employs 6,000 and spends $1.5 billion annually on US raw materials. Kingspan, a leader in insulation solutions, operates 32 sites across 17 states, employing 2,500 and planning a $750 million investment, including three new facilities in 2025. These investments highlight Irish firms' commitment to innovation and US economic growth.

Enterprise Ireland plays a pivotal role in supporting Irish exporters in the US. Our seventh US office in Atlanta has helped over 80 companies establish US presences in the past 18 months, fostering jobs and partnerships. The US remains a strategic export market for over 950 client companies, with 73% maintaining a full-time presence. Their success stems from innovation and competitiveness.

New 15% US tariffs in 2025 pose challenges, but Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting clients to consolidate their US business while diversifying markets and products. Through initiatives like the Enhanced Market Research Grant (€35,000) and Market Discovery Fund (€150,000), we help firms navigate tariff impacts, building on resilience from Brexit and COVID-19. By strengthening competitiveness, we aim to solidify their US presence, protect jobs, and drive growth, ensuring Irish exporters continue delivering mutual prosperity to Ireland and the US.